READ: New Guidelines On How To Receive DSWD Student Cash Aid

The Department of Social Welfare and Development announced on its Facebook page today that it has new guidelines for the distribution of its cash aid for indigent students.

This educational aid is under DSWD's program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) for students-in-crisis. This is to make the process more orderly, after thick crowds marred the first day of distribution last August 20.

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In a report by Reportr, DSWD partnered with the Department of the Interior and Local Government to provide manpower support and additional venues for cash payouts. Previously, payouts were done only in the DSWD's central office in Quezon City as well as its field offices in the provinces.

"Dahil sa distributed ito sa mga cities and mga municipalities, marami nang payout centers, we expect na made-declog na yung mga lugar, hindi na magsisiksikan," Tulfo said.

Personnel from the DSWD field offices in cities and municipalities will also help in checking the requirements for the educational assistance, as well as provide security during the payout dates.

New guidelines for DSWD cash aid for students

Here are the other changes that will be made:

Electronic registration first, no walk-ins

Unlike on the first day of cash distribution, eligible beneficiaries will be required to register first through their respective field office, DSWD's website, QR code, or designated phone number before visiting the payout center.

This means that there will be no walk-ins at the payout centers in the succeeding dates of cash aid distribution, Tulfo said.

"Iniiwasan natin yung walk-in muna kasi kailangan natin ayusin, kailangan natin i-fine tune ito. Kasi inaasahan natin kapag nagka-walk-in ulit, dadagsa ang tao," he added.

Tulfo didn't specify the website through which beneficiaries can register, but the DSWD's Facebook page said requests can be sent through ciu.co@dswd.gov.ph.

"Bisitahin lamang ang Facebook Page ng DSWD Field Office sa inyong lugar para sa buong detalye ng proseso ng pagkuha ng Educational Assistance sa ilalim ng programang Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)," DSWD said in its post. 

"Kapag nag-register, magco-confirm kami kung saan kayo pupuntang payout center para mas mabilis, mas madali at hindi magulo," he said.

Faster processing

To ensure that more beneficiaries will receive aid, Tulfo said they will try to expedite the processing of the requirements at the payout facility.

After the initial checking of the requirements, personnel from the DSWD will interview the beneficiaries to ask questions about their family's income sources, among others. The beneficiaries will then immediately proceed to the payout center to receive the cash aid.

"Ang target namin kung kakayanin, within 10 minutes pagpasok niya ay makalabas na siya kasi less na yung documentation at tsaka yung mga questions para mabilis yung beneficiary," Tulfo said.

Alphabetical listing eyed

Tulfo said they are also considering grouping the beneficiaries by the first letter of their surnames to prevent large crowds at the payment centers.

"Online registration pero alphabetical siguro muna, yung A to E and then susunod letter F to K. Ganun ang gagawin natin para mas maayos ang pamimigay ng ayuda," he added.

Eligible beneficiaries streamlined

Tulfo clarified that existing beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps and recipients of the scholarship programs from the local government are no longer qualified to receive the DSWD educational assistance.

"Yung 4Ps, hindi na kasama dito kasi 4Ps itself is educational assistance na yun," he said.

"Ang purpose lamang nitong educational assistance ay para sa mga bata na kailangan ng school supplies or pambayad ng school fees," he added.

The distribution of the DSWD educational assistance to indigent students will continue every Saturday until September 24. Eligible beneficiaries are reminded to bring a certificate of enrollment and a valid school ID to avail of the cash aid.

This story originally appeared on Reportr.world. Minor edits have been made by the SmartParenting.com.ph editors.