Two million students have already registered online for student aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) but the agency can only serve 400,000.
According to DSWD ASec. Romel Lopez within the past 3 Saturdays of the educational assistance payout in the 300 implementation sites, 257,285 have been given aid nationwide or a total of P649,888,800.
In total, the DSWD fund for educational assistance is P1.5B.
Lopez said that the payout is until September 24 and if there are still funds left, the agency is willing to extend the payout schedule.
The department also clarified that until the end of providing assistance, walk in applicants will not be allowed.
In this regard, Lopez apologized to the beneficiaries if the confirmation text takes 1 week, he said, there are many applicants that are being reviewed one by one by the DSWD.
"The educational assistance is still subject to the assessment of the social worker and the availability of funds and not all who applied will automatically receive assistance," Lopez clarified.
Meanwhile, Lopez also said that students who cannot enter the cut off because they will only be given up to 400,000 beneficiaries are being notified to apply for other DSWD programs.
"The DSWD has other programs if our educational assistance does not reach," added Lopez.
Some of the assistance that can be requested is under the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation program such as transportation assistance and food assistance which separate application is needed for the said program.
