DSWD providing fund assistance to students

By Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development is providing educational assistance to students under its different programs.

Regional Director Janet P. Armas bared this saying  assistance to indigent students is coursed through the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU), the Expanded Students’ Grants in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Government Internship Program (GIP).

“We would like to inform the public that the educational assistance that we provide through the CIU is not in the form of scholarship unlike the ESGP-PA,” Armas said.

Educational assistance provided through the CIU aims to provide immediate educational financial assistance to indigent students in crisis situation. This means that assistance is provided to students who are currently studying but are experiencing financial difficulties and are threatened to get out of school as a result.

On the other hand, the ESGP-PA provides scholarship and stipend to potential scholars entering college level from households under the 4Ps. This is a joint undertaking with national government agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Budget and Management, and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The GIP aims to extend possible financial assistance to students for their next enrolment; in return, the participants are expected to provide public service as part of the Department.

 “Unlike other scholarships, our services and assistance prioritize indigent students because they are among the most vulnerable to not finish their studies,”Armas said. 

 Individuals who would like to avail of the educational assistance should first visit their respective local social welfare and development offices for proper referral. They may also visit the CIU at DSWD Regional Haven for Women and Girls # 40 North Drive, Baguio City. 

Among the requirements for assistance are certificate of enrolment or assessment of fees and photocopy of the identification card of the student, barangay certificate or certificate of indigency and photocopy of the client’s identification card.

The DSWD has already provided 1,279 grantee slots in the region. Under the Students’ Grants in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation   implemented from 2012-2014, there were 299 grantees -30 at  the  Abra State Institute of Science and Technology(ASIST), 16 in Apayao State College(ASC), 199  at Benguet State University(BSU), 9 in Ifugao State University(IFSU), 33 in Kalinga State University (former Kalinga-Apayao State College) and 12  at  the  Mountain Province State Polytechnic College(MPSPC).

Under the ESGP-PA  implemented from  2014-2016, the region has been allotted a total of 980 slots of which 167 are in ASIST, 30 in ASC, 257 in BSU, 197 in IFSU, 162 in KSU and 167 in MPSPC.

 Since its implementation, there are already 299 graduates assisted by the program. This year, a total of 122 students who have availed of the program have graduated or will be graduating from their respective SUCs.