The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed more than P141,049,500 for the beneficiaries of its Educational Assistance Program for public school students.
A total of 48,033 indigent students received cash aid from the DSWD as of Saturday, Aug. 20.
The largest number of beneficiaries are from Region I with 5,715. It was followed by Region VI with 5,144 and Region IV-A with 5,019.
The DSWD said it gave P20,422,000 in cash aid to beneficiaries in Region I, P20,760,000 to poor students in Region VI and P14,292,000 to those in Region IV-A.
The agency also gave P7,844,000 to 2,149 beneficiaries who went to its central office in Quezon City.
There were 579 registered and 1,570 walk-ins who were given educational assistance.
The program aims to provide cash aid to students from poor families to help them meet their educational needs for the incoming school year.
It is scheduled to continue for six Saturdays until Sept. 24, 2022.
However, due to the reported chaotic distribution of cash aid last Saturday, Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the DSWD will recalibrate its process and work with local government units to avoid a repeat of long queues and too many people rushing to seek aid. (PIA-NCR)
