At least PHP49 million have been disbursed for the educational assistance payout in Davao Region as of Sept. 5, according to the head of the region’s Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-11) on Monday.

In an interview, DSWD-11 Director Vanessa Goc-ong said the amount was given to at least 23,120 students in various grade levels in the region.

The aid is under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, which has been extended to cover students in crisis or emergencies.

Goc-ong said that they are continuously validating the submitted requirements of applicants to the program.

Last week, DSWD-11 stopped the drop box mechanism due to the bulk of applications, which reached 150,000 across the region.

“Yes it is still on hold, but we will announce if we will resume it, maybe this week,” Goc-ong said.

DSWD-11 halted all drop box submission of applications in the regional office and its satellite offices since Aug. 31 to give time for validation.

Recently, DSWD-11 has adopted the “drop box” scheme to avoid the influx of applicants to the educational assistance payout.

The drop box arrangement was adopted after confusion, coupled with overcrowding, marred DSWD’s first payout on August 20, with many of the applicants expressing disappointment over how the distribution was carried out. (PNA)