With the start of school opening for elementary and high school students, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo assured the public that the agency will continue to assist clients who want to secure educational assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the department.

“Sa kasalukuyan, marami sa mga kababayan natin ang gusting maka-kuha ng educational assistance dahil simula na ang pasukan sa elementary at high school (The DSWD is currently being flooded with clients who want to secure educational assistance because it is the start of the school period for elementary and high school),” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

Since last week,  clients have been queuing at the DSWD compound to avail of educational assistance.  This has been the pattern even in the past years especially during school opening.

“Hindi naman bago ang ganitong pangyayari tuwing magpapasukan. Kahit maliit lang ito, ang educational assistance ng DSWD ay nakakatulong  mapagaan kahit paano ang bigat ng mga gastusin ng mga magulang para sa tuition at iba pang bayarin  ng kanilang mga anak. Pandagdag din ito sa kanilang pambili sa school supplies, baon sa eskwela, at pamasahe ng kanilang mga anak (This is nothing new. Every year, we expect the number of clients asking for educational assistance during and before the start of the school year to surge. Even if the educational assistance we can provide is not at all exorbitant, it is still useful because it helps ease the financial burdens of parents when it comes to tuition costs, school supplies, and the transportation and food needs of their children).”,” she added.

To avail of the educational assistance, clients have to to go through the screening process where they need to submit the following documents: 1) Enrollment Assessment Form/Certificate of Enrollment or Registration; 2) Student’s school ID; and 3) Barangay Certificate of Residency or Indigency.

The amount of assistance which can be provided to the client may range up to P5,000, depending on the assessment of the social worker, in cash or through a guarantee letter.  However, if deemed necessary, the social worker may ask the client to return another day if the requirements are not fulfilled or if the documentary requirements have been found to have discrepancies. The social worker assessing the request for assistance may recommend that the potential beneficiary to return another day for the release of assistance.

Meanwhile, the social welfare chief also clarified that despite the huge number of clients asking for educational assistance, other services of the AICS programs such as the provision of medical, burial and transportation assistance will continue.  With the urgency of the burial and medical assistance,  the cash aid or guarantee letter can be released immediately.

She also said that the DSWD has now augmented social workers from other bureaus to assist social workers working in the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) to interview and assess AICS clients.

“Kami po ay saludo sa mga magulang na nagsisikap na maitaguyod na mapag-aral ang kanilang mga anak kaya po aming ginagawa ang lahat  ng aming makakaya upang maayos at epektibong maisagawa ang mga programa ng ahensya upang mas marami ang mabigyan ng tulong (We salute parents who strive to provide education to their children. This is the reason why we continue to improve the services of the agency so that we can reach more people in need),” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

Finally, Sec. Taguiwalo said that members of the 4PS program are not qualified for the educational assistance program.

“The 4Ps program is primarily an educational assistance program for children of member households. It will not be fair to duplicate the benefit 4Ps members receive. We ask 4Ps members to desist from lining up for the educational assistance program under AICs,” she concluded. #