The Department of Social Welfare and Development is offering cash assistance to indigent students to help them in their school-related needs as the new school year opens on Monday next week.
Starting this Saturday, Aug. 20 and every Saturday until Sept. 24, the DSWD's central office in Quezon City as well as its field offices in the provinces will accommodate indigent students or their parents to avail of the educational assistance which is given only once every school year.
"This program is aimed to help our indigent students all over the country, which means children coming from poor families will be given a cash assistance to buy their school supplies or whatever need that they need in school like school supplies, school fees, uniform, shoes," Social Welfare Sec. Erwin Tulfo said in a press conference on Thursday.
READ: Classes for SY 2022-2023 to Begin Aug. 22: DepEd
Who can avail of the cash assistance?
Students coming from indigent families are eligible to receive the assistance. These include the following:
- Children from poor families
- Children of solo parents, PWDs, and sick parents
- Orphans or abandoned children
- Children of tricycle and jeepney drivers, laundrywomen, househelpers, other laborers
Only three students per family are allowed to avail of the educational assistance.
How much will eligible students get?
The one-time cash assistance will be given to qualified students in the following schedule:
- Elementary - P1,000
- High School - P2,000
- Senior High School - P3,000
- College/Vocational courses - P4,000
What are the requirements?
To avail of the assistance, school children or their parents only need to present a certificate of employment and/or a valid school ID.
Parents of elementary and high school students are not required to bring their children to DSWD offices to avail of the assistance. Senior high school students, college students, and those taking vocational courses can visit DSWD offices by themselves.
Where can eligible beneficiaries avail of the assistance?
Qualified beneficiaries can visit the DSWD's central office in Batasan, Quezon City to receive the financial assistance starting at 7 a.m. on Aug. 20 and every Saturday until Sept. 24. Walk-ins are allowed.
For those living in the provinces, the payout will be done at the DSWD's field offices during the same dates starting at 8 a.m.
Tulfo said there is no cut-off in the distribution of the cash assistance. "Tatapusin namin yung mga tao na nasa pila," he added.
Alternatively, eligible beneficiaries can send email to [email protected] to inform the agency that they are availing the educational assistance.
The DSWD allotted a funding of around P500 million from its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program to provide the educational assistance to indigent students.
"Dalhin niyo lang ang mga requirements at tutulungan namin kayo," Tulfo said.
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