The Department of Social Welfare and Development announced on Sunday that it will need an additional P200 to P300 million to reopen its educational assistance program for needy students.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo said that the program's P1.5-billion budget was insufficient, despite the fact that two million students had registered in their system.

The proposed P200 to P300 million additional funding for the cash assistance program — as suggested by the DSWD — could be distributed per district and registration could then be done in each region.

"We will look for funds because what we have allocated is nearly exhausted. We will look for savings under the AICS. If we find something, then we may provide educational assistance again for those who have not been given yet," Tulfo said.

The program has served a total of 676,922 beneficiaries since 20 August — the first of six Saturdays set for the cash payout, which ended on Saturday, 24 September.

Initially, the agency planned to serve only about 400,000 students across the country.

Up to three students per indigent family could receive P1,000 for elementary school, P2,000 for high school, P3,000 for senior high school, and P4,000 for college or vocational courses under the program.