DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo posted on Facebook this image of huge crowds seeking to avail of the department’s educational assistance program.
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday to coordinate their efforts with regards the distribution of cash aid for indigent students.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said this on Monday following the fiasco at the DSWD central office and regional offices last Saturday when people went in droves in hopes to avail of the educational assistance.
“Mayroong MOA signing later this afternoon between me and [Interior] Secretary Abalos para maibaba ‘yang educational assistance sa mga bayan at lungsod,” Tulfo said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.
(There is a MOA signing later this afternoon between me and Secretary Abalos so that the educational assistance will be brought down to local government units.)
Tulfo said the local government units will be the ones to manage the payout as well as the screening and security in the regional offices.
“Ang gagawin natin kung saang lungsod ka, o ang pinakamalapit na lungsod o bayan, doon ka pumunta at doon ka pumila,” he said.
(What we will do is you will go to the nearest office to you and you will line up there.)
“So we expect na made-decongest na ito at kakaunti ang pila, kasi bayan bayan na lungsod bawat lungsod,” Tulfo added.
(We expected that the lines would be decongested because the people will go to the offices nearest to them.)
The DSWD chief gave assurance that the agency will have enough manpower for the aid distribution, saying its personnel in regional and satellite offices, as well as personnel in the 4Ps distribution, will be tapped.
“Pati ‘yung 4Ps patutulungin na natin diyan para ika nga ay may enough manpower,” he said.
(Even those handling the 4Ps will help so that we will have enough manpower.)
“Ang magiging papel ng LGU, bukod sa pag-identify kung saan ‘yung payout nila sa atin, sila rin ang mag-provide ng security, at saka ‘yung mga screening, pero kami na ang magbabayad sa mga estudyante,” Tulfo added.
(The LGUs’ role is they will identify where the payout will be and they will provide security and screening. We will be the ones to handle the cash distribution to students.)
READ: DSWD to release cash aid for indigent students through LGUs, says Tulfo
The DSWD last Friday announced that it will be distributing some P500 million in cash assistance to indigent students to help them pay for education-related expenses.
Tulfo earlier apologized for the chaos that marked the first day of the agency’s distribution of cash aid for indigent students.
According to Tulfo, last Saturday there were at least 48,000 students who had been given educational assistance, amounting to P141 million.
He said the cash aid distribution will be conducted for six Saturdays until Sept. 24.