BY GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas needs more funds for qualified beneficiaries of its educational assistance.
Atty. May Rago-Castillo, DSWD regional information officer, said they have already disbursed P101.3 million to 36,131 student beneficiaries in the first four Saturdays of payout.
“We already elevated to the central office the concern that we need additional fund,” said Rago-Castillo, adding that they are awaiting for the specific amount the region has requested.
The P91 million which the central office initially downloaded for the region’s educational assistance under DSWD’s Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) was already exhausted.
Rago-Castillo said the regional office had to augment the fund from its regular AICS fund to serve the beneficiaries during the fourth Saturday payout on Sept. 10.
“We are still awaiting sang update on this (request for additional fund) from central office,” Rago-Castillo said.
Many registrants have not yet been given the schedule for assessment and payout because of the bulk of online registrants, she added.
So far, DSWD Region 6 received a total of 591,744 registrations online. Of these, 43,820 applicants have been crossed match to the database to make sure they are not beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), to check for double registration, and if they have already been paid early on.
Rago-Castillo added that 16,000 are up for assessment and scheduling for next Saturday’s payout.
As of Sept. 10, of the 36,131 students served, 3,956 are from Aklan with total disbursement of P10.3 million; 3,809 (P10.5 million) are from Antique; 4,186 (P11 million) are from Capiz; 11,686 (P35.2 million) are from Iloilo; 2,229 (P5.2 million) are from Guimaras; and 10,256 (P28.9 million) are from Negros Occidental.
Data also showed that 8,311 elementary students were served in the region with fund disbursement amounting to P8.3 million; 6,799 high school students with P13.5 million disbursement; 4,667 senior high school students with P14 million disbursement; and 16,354 college/vocational students with P65.4 million disbursement.
Rago-Castillo said last Saturday’s payout went smoothly and orderly.
She thanked all the staff of DSWD all over the region for extending their service even on a weekend as well as to the host local government units./PN
