ILOILO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development here has temporarily halted the acceptance of online applications for educational assistance in Western Visayas to allow time for the processing of pending requests.

DSWD Western Visayas information officer, Atty. May Rago-Castillo, said from 20 August to 7 September, the regional office had received 591,744 online applications and so far, 547, 924 are still to be subjected to cross-matching.

"We cross match the data with the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program or 4Ps because they are not qualified for the program. We also cross-match the data with those who already received their payout," said Rago-Castillo in an online interview.

She added that of the 43,820 that were cross-matched, 12,065 have been served, 6,936 were found belonging to 4Ps households, while 24,819 are still for assessment and payout subject to the availability of funds.

Once the online registration resumes, Rago-Castillo said that the regional office will make the necessary announcement.

"We will issue an advisory. This Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation education assistance is a regular program of the DSWD," Rago-Castillo said.

The DSWD has also elevated to their central office the concern on funding requirements and now waiting for Secretary Erwin Tulfo to issue a statement.

Western Visayas has been allocated P91 million for educational assistance and the last three payouts have released P76.561 million for 27,280 students in crisis in the region.

The department also emphasized that the no walk-in policy will continue to be observed in the succeeding payout.

The educational assistance is for students in crisis including breadwinners; working students; children of unemployed parents, solo parents, overseas Filipino workers in distress and with human immunodeficiency virus; orphaned, abandoned, or staying with relatives; abused or displaced children; and victims of human-induced or natural calamities.