DSWD explains educ aid distribution

“THAT time, there was no clarity of communication or guidelines that they will apply online.”

This was pointed out by Regional Director Ramel F. Jamen of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-10) in response to the query of Councilor Jose Pepe S. Abbu, Jr. during the City Council regular session Monday presided over by City Vice Mayor Jocelyn B. Rodriguez on whether the students were informed that they should file online their applications for the DSWD educational assistance.

Councilor Abbu noted that students swarmed to the DSWD regional office on the first day of the payout causing heavy traffic. Some students fainted at that time due to extreme heat, he added.

Dir. Jamen said Secretary Erwin Tulfo declared it automatically and told the public to proceed to the DSWD field office to receive the educational assistance.

“Kami na ang sa region bahala unsaon. Kato ang problem gyud,” he stressed.

Dir. Jamen explained that they were oriented about the educational assistance on Thursday and the DSWD office only had one day to communicate and prepare for the payout for Saturday.

In response to the query of Councilor Abbu, a DSWD representative said students who are receiving financial subsidies or incentives on top of the free tuition given by schools are not eligible to receive the assistance.

The legislative body invited Dir. Jamen to shed light on the distribution of assistance for qualified elementary, secondary, and college students in the city in response to the special report of Councilor Girlie Balaba last week.