29 hurt in stampede for gov’t dole; poor planning hit

THE CENTRAL COULD NOT HOLD According to a DSWD spokesperson, about 5,000 people—some of them shown here—trooped to the agency’s main office at Barangay Batasan Hills in Quezon City to apply for the educational cash assistance on Saturday. —LYN RILLON

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — Dozens of people were hurt in a stampede for cash payouts at the City Coliseum here on Saturday, as thousands rushed to the area hoping to get the education assistance promised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

But only 500 were to be accommodated for the Saturday payout, leading to a mad scramble that left many people stumbling and falling to the ground. The Zamboanga City Medical Center counted 29 persons treated for injuries, with the victims between the ages of 16 and 58, hospital staff said.

The Zamboanga City Police Office said the stampede occurred at the entrance of the coliseum in Barangay Tetuan around 7:30 a.m. As the gate was opened, a huge crowd tried to force their way in, the police said.

Some of the people had gathered outside the coliseum as early as Friday night, a few hours after the DSWD announced the schedule of the payout for the first 500 beneficiaries.

Mayor John Dalipe directed the concerned agencies to ensure proper coordination for a smooth and orderly payout activity. The city government, Dalipe said, was ready to provide resources to ensure the well-being of the intended beneficiaries.

Some residents blamed the DSWD’s poor planning for the commotion. In a social media post, Raymart Hilario said the agency’s good intentions were overshadowed by lapses in the distribution system.

The DSWD regional office has yet to issue a statement on the incident but its information officer, Ivan Salvador, said its personnel visited the victims and handed them the cash aid they had queued for.

CDO, Iligan crowds

In Cagayan de Oro City, several people fainted while wating for the aid outside the agency’s Northern Mindanao regional office. Just before the DSWD opened its doors, as many as 5,000 people were already in line, choking the flow of vehicular traffic.

In Iligan City, as many as 3,000 parents and prospective beneficiaries flocked to the DSWD field office, hoping to be among the first 200 to get the money on Saturday.

At least two persons fainted from extreme heat, according the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Officers from Police Station 4 provided security to prevent any commotion and maintain order.

Neña Joy Gemina, 30, who has two children enrolled this school year, complained that her application for education assistance had been turned down.

She said she was told she could not qualify for the aid since her husband — a construction worker — already has a job.

—WITH A REPORT FROM RICHEL V. UMEL