At least 66,000 students across the nation received assistance amounting to P168 million on Saturday, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In a radio interview, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government and local government units for their help in ensuring a peaceful and orderly distribution of the assistance.
“First of all, we would like to thank the Lord. And DILG Secretary BenhurAbalos and our policemen, our mayors and governors who lent their facilities and personnel,” Tulfo said.
“We also thank our countrymen for their patience and understanding.”
Tulfo conceded that there are still a few problems that they needed to iron out or fix, like the need for additional payout sites and means to accommodate those without mobile phones or access to the Internet.
“There are areas where the internet is inaccessible. Some people don’t have loads to register with their phones. We need to plan carefully, especially if we allow walk-ins,” he said.
The DSWD still has four more Saturdays or until 24 September to distribute assistance to indigent students.
Meanwhile, DSWD Undersecretary Rommel Lopez said the suggestion to seek the help of teachers in the distribution of assistance is a bright idea but Tulfo doesn’t want them to get involved due to their workload and personal security.
Lopez said teachers are already neck-deep in preparation for the opening of classes.
He added that teachers will be putting themselves in danger with the big money they carry.
The DSWD official said they have put up payment booths and online registration requiring few documents.
A total of P1.5 billion has been earmarked for the estimated 400,000 beneficiaries.