LGUs urged to help in release of DSWD education aid

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Monday urged all local government units (LGUs) to provide manpower support to ensure an orderly distribution of financial assistance by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a statement, Abalos also called on LGUs to provide fixed venues for the distribution of the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

This came in response to the request of DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo for LGUs to help facilitate the distribution of the AICS educational cash aid after people came in droves to the DSWD central and regional offices.

Implemented by the DSWD, the AICS provides various protective services for vulnerable families, including education assistance to help defray the cost of tuition fees and school expenses.

Under this program, elementary pupils from indigent families will each be provided with PHP1,000; high school students, PHP2,000; senior high school students, PHP3,000; and college students, PHP4,000.

Abalos said according to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DILG and DSWD, the DSWD must coordinate with the LGUs for the conduct of information dissemination on the guidelines, mechanics, and schedule for registration of beneficiaries and distribution of assistance.

“In this massive undertaking, we look to our LGUs to assist us to be able to send out the AICS to the students who need them the most. Malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga kababayan kaya naman inaaasahan natin ang tulong ng mga pamahalaang lokal (This is a big help to those in need, that’s why we expect the help of local governments),” said Abalos in a statement.

He said the LGUs should extend necessary support to the DSWD in the distribution of educational financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries under the AICS program to avail of the educational aid before the opening of the school year 2022-2023.

“In cases of cities and big municipalities, it is encouraged to have multiple distribution centers to avoid over-crowding of students and their parents. We call on our LGUs to respond proactively to the appeal of DSWD Secretary Tulfo. Hindi naman tayo bago sa mga ganitong pamamahagi ng tulong pinansyal sa ating mga kababayan (We are not new to such distributions of financial assistance to our countrymen). Let us step up and extend all the help that we can provide for the success of the distribution of financial aid to our students,” he said.

The DILG Chief, however, clarified that while LGUs will assist in the distribution of the financial assistance, it will be the DSWD personnel and social workers, not local government personnel or barangays, who will give out the monetary aid.

“Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na paymasters ng DSWD na siyang mangangasiwa sa pamimigay ng assistance. Ang LGU po ay naroon upang umalalay (We have what we call DSWD paymasters who will oversee the distribution of assistance. The LGU is there to support),” Abalos said.

He said DSWD shall provide the DILG with the list of LGUs where the distribution will be conducted together with the date and time of the distribution.

Abalos also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide police support during the implementation of the AICS to help ensure the orderly, safe and secure transport, delivery, and distribution of funds.

He said that just like previous aid distributions, the police would maintain order and ensure the safety of the people during the educational aid distribution. He added that minimum public health standards (MPHS) must also be implemented as much as possible as the country is still battling the coronavirus pandemic and has tallied three cases of monkeypox.

Abalos likewise encouraged LGUs to continue to implement their best practices in the distribution of financial assistance in terms of crowd management and mode of dissemination such as digital or online payouts.

He also reminded the beneficiaries to cooperate and adhere to the parameters set by the DILG and DSWD to ensure a more organized distribution of cash aid.

“Hinihiling po natin sa ating mga kababayan na makiisa po at pairalain ang disiplina kapag sila ay kukuha ng kanilang educational assistance para organized po tayo (We are asking the public to cooperate and show discipline when they get their educational assistance so that we can be organized),” said Abalos.