BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson hailed the decision of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Erwin Tulfo to release the agency’s educational assistance to indigent students through local government units (LGUs) instead.
The educational assistance is part of DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
DSWD was heavily criticized over the messy and disorganized distribution of financial assistance on Aug. 20.
In Bacolod City that day, thousands of students hoping to receive the educational assistance flocked to the Ayala Malls Capitol Central. It nearly led to a stampede.
According to Lacson, DSWD failed to coordinate even with the provincial government over the aid distribution.
The distribution in Bacolod was inconvenient for thousands of Negrenses who had to travel, he lamented.
Lacson said it would be better if the AICS would be distributed either by LGUs or per district.
Following the incident on Saturday, Tulfo issued an apology.
He then announced that the AICS distribution will now be led by LGUs beginning next Saturday, Aug. 27, but still under DSWD’s supervision.
The mess on Aug. 20, especially in neighboing Iloilo City, elicited harsh criticism from Mayor Jerry Treñas, who threatened to declare the DSWD regional director “persona non grata.”/PN
