DSWD's Tulfo apologizes to parents, students over confusion in claiming education aid

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Saturday apologized to students and their parents and guardians who did not receive their educational assistance despite falling in line at Batasan Complex in Quezon City.

"Pasensiya na po kayo. Ginagawan naman ho namin ng paraan. Nagre-recalibrate po kami, ina-adjust po namin," Tulfo said in a media interview.

"(We apologize. We are finding solutions. We are recalibrating, adjusting the educational assistance.)

WATCH: DSWD Sec. Erwin Tulfo, humingi ng paumanhin sa mga maagang pumila pero hindi nakakuha ng educational assistance ngayong araw @dzbb pic.twitter.com/ywVpjrutX7

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) August 20, 2022

Likewise, Tulfo said the DSWD is planning to issue the cash aid to the local government offices.

"Siguro po next weekend ang gagawin namin hihingi po kami ng tulong. Bababa na namin sa munisipyo, pero not in the barangay kasi ang barangay humihingi ng indigency, ayaw ng mga tao 'yun," he said.

(Probably next weekend we will need some help. We will bring the assistance down to the municipality, but not in the barangay because the barangay requires indigency, which the people do not want.)

"Sa munisipyo, upon the supervision of DSWD personnel, meron pa rin po rito sa munisipyo para pumunta na lang po sila sa mga munisipyo nila," Tulfo added.

(With the supervision of DSWD personnel, educational assistance will still be available in the municipality so people could just go there.)

Some students, and their parents or guardians, queued up at the DSWD Central Office as early as 5 p.m. on Friday to make sure they will make it to the cutoff.

The lines had stretched so long, reaching the Batasan-San Mateo Road.

Tulfo previously announced that the agency will distribute financial assistance to indigent students every Saturday until September 24.

Tulfo said the DSWD will give out P1,000 for elementary students, P2,000 for high school students, P3,000 for senior high school students, and P4,000 for college students or vocational courses.

He said there can be three beneficiaries per family.

Those who wish to avail of the assistance only need to bring the enrollment certificate and their school ID. —LBG, GMA News