A total of P20.7 million in educational assistance was released to students in Western Visayas on Saturday, Aug. 20 — the first day of distribution.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-6) said the amount was received by 5,144 student-beneficiaries.

Of the number, 1,713 were from Iloilo (P7,750,000), 957 from Capiz (P4,700,00), 719 from Aklan (P2,671,000), 613 from Antique (2,263,000), 587 from Negros Occidental (P2,203,000) and 555 from Guimaras (P1,173,000).

The one-time cash assistance aims to help indigent students from elementary to college, according to Delia Villa-Bagolcol, DSWD-6 OIC regional director.

“Para mabuligan sa ila nga mga galastuhan sa ila pag-eskwela subong sang school supplies, school projects, allowance kag iban pa nga mga galamiton,” she said.

Qualified elementary pupils will receive P1,000 each, while high school students will get P2,000 each. Senior high school and college students will get P3,000 and P4,000, respectively.

Those eligible for the educational assistance payout are breadwinners, working students, child of a solo parent, child of an Overseas Filipino Worker, student whose parent/s has acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), orphaned or abandoned child, child of an unemployed parents, victim of abuse, and calamity-affected victim.

Student applicants are required to bring their certificate of registration and enrollment, or any proof of enrollment of the applicant, as well as valid IDs of the guardian and the student.IMT

Photo by DSWD-6