BENGUET lone district representative, Cong. Eric Yap, lauded the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and its secretary, Erwin Tulfo, for the department’s “pro-active efforts to help more Filipinos in need.”
Yap issued the statement as the DSWD rolled out last August 20, 2022, its cash assistance to indigent students to help defray their expenses such as the purchase of school supplies with the return of the ‘face-to-face’ (F2F) classes starting this Monday, August 22, 2022.
The cash assistance amounting to a minimum of P1,000 per student was drawn from the P500 million fund of the DPWH under its ‘assistance to individuals in crisis situation’ (AICS).
“For so many years, the DSWD has implemented AICS to cater to the needs of disadvantaged individuals.
“With the upcoming opening of classes, the agency recognized the need for assistance of the students and actively took measures to extend help.
“Through Secretary Tulfo, the DSWD opened its doors to make its AICS program more accessible to the indigent youth all over the country,” Yap said further.
The solon, who has a separate program for indigent youths and residents in his district, also brushed aside the criticisms hurled by some quarters over the alleged ‘chaotic’ situation that prevailed during Saturday’s activity.
“What occurred during the payout shows how many indigent students stand in need of educational cash aid,” Yap pointed out.
“This experience during the first weekend is one of the birth pains of change. The DSWD commits to improve the system to address the challenges encountered by those who stood in line to have their documents processed,” the solon stated.
“But more than anything, we must hold in high regard this initiative by Secretary Tulfo. Being a game changer, he intends to get rid of the ‘palakasan system’ in which the beneficiaries of the
“agency’s programs are determined according to their connections.
“By opening the doors of the agency, he made AICS available to all the qualified indigents,” Yap stressed.
Yap also praised Tulfo for taking the initiative to reach out to beneficiaries in a novel way.
“Since his appointment, what he has done is beyond the bare minimum.
“Secretary Tulfo could have taken the safer route and stick with the accustomed work and process in the agency, but he did not.
“He chose to be proactive, attempting to change the routine to help more of those in need.
“Thus, we seek for the patience and cooperation of our kababayans as the agency continue to enhance their system to help more families struggling during this difficult time,” Yap said.