The Department of Social Welfare and Development needs an additional ₱300 million budget assistance for the educational program.
Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the agency needs up to ₱300 million to continue the education aid program.
Tulfo said that the ₱1.5-billion budget for the program was not enough, considering that the number of students who registered in their system reached two million. He said some of them also registered 2 to 3 times, the GMA News reported.
The additional ₱200–₱300 million for the financial assistance program could be provided to each district, and registration could then be done throughout all regions.
“We will look for funds because what we have allocated is nearly exhausted. We will look for savings under the assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS). If we find something, then we may provide educational assistance again for those who have not been given yet,” the Manila Standard quoted Tulfo.
DSWD Undersecretary Jerico Javier said that September 24 at 6 p.m. the overall amount disbursed under the cash assistance program was at ₱1.63 billion, GMA News further reported.
The official said that this amount marked a 108- percent use of the initiative's original ₱1.5 billion budget. Javier said that the excess P131 million was from DSWD’s regular funds under the AICS program.
The program has served a total of 676,922 people since August 20. Initially, the DSWD planned to assist only 400,000 students nationwide.
Under the program, up to three students per indigent family could receive ₱1,000 for elementary students, ₱2,000 for high school students, ₱3,000 for senior high school students, and ₱4,000 for college students or vocational courses.
Tags: #educational assistance, #DSWD