Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Erwin Tulfo has apologized to those who were not accommodated on the first day of the distribution of educational assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
“WE ARE VERY SORRY… Sa mga galit po sa amin ngayon dahil hindi po namin natulungan today…ang amin pong taos pusong paumanhin,” Sec. Tulfo said in a Facebook post.
He also vowed to do better in the succeeding Saturdays set for the distribution.
“WE WILL DO BETTER NEXT SATURDAY AT SA DARATING NA LIMANG SABADO. Ang amin pong nakikitang solusyon… ILALAPIT na po namin sa inyo ang educational assistance sa tulong po ng mga taga-city hall at munisipyo na malapit sa inyong tirahan,” he explained.
Sec. Tulfo also assured Filipinos that the DSWD will screen beneficiaries in order to prevent “palakasan system.”
“WAG po kayong mag-alala dahil ang DSWD pa rin po ang mamimili ng mga benepisyaryo para maiwasan ang palakasan, kapit, at padrino. Katuwang na rin po namin ang DILG sa proyektong ito.”
Those who received stubs and forms were asked to wait for their message.
“At sa mga nabigyan na po ng stub at pina-fill up na ng form today, tatawag o magtext po kami para sa skedyul kung kailan ibibigay namin ang inyong educational assistance mula Lunes hanggang Biyernes next week sa mga DSWD offices namin. SO SORRY PO ULI,” he said.
Filipinos flocked to various DSWD offices on the first day of educational assistance distribution on Saturday.
The DSWD also asked those who want to apply for educational assistance at the central office to register using the QR code first,
“‘Yan ay para maiwasan ang siksikan sa pila ng mga aplikante. Antayin naman ang text confirmation mula sa DSWD sa petsa at oras kung kailan papapuntahin dito sa Central Office,” DSWD said.
“Huwag rin mag-alala dahil anim na Sabado o hanggang September 24 tatagal ang Educational Assistance Payout ng DSWD.”