BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The first day of the distribution of cash aid to student-beneficiaries by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, on August 20 at a shopping mall in Bacolod City, almost resulted in a stampede after the restless crowd rushed inside, resulting in the destruction of its automatic door, according to witnesses.
A video footage of the incident was posted in Facebook.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said many recipients have asked “why they had to come to Bacolod City for this.”
Lacson said that the distribution “should have been done through the local government units, at the very least, by district”. “Let this be an experience for future planning,” he said.
An estimated 2,000 recipients had started lining up outside the shopping mall since Friday night.
In a statement, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo profusely apologized for the incident, as he vowed that his department would do better next Saturday and the next five Saturdays by implementing a more organized distribution system with the help of city and municipal officials and the Department of Interior and Local Government.
DWSD reported to have distributed P2.2 million educational assistance to 587 students in Negros Occidental on its first day.
DSWD regional officer-in-charge Delia Villa-Bagolcol disclosed that the one-time cash assistance aims to help indigent students from elementary to college.
“This is to help them with their school expenses like school supplies, school projects, allowance and their other needs,” Bagolcol said.
Qualified elementary pupils will receive P1,000 each, high school students get P2,000 each, while Senior high school and college students will get P3,000 and P4,000, respectively.
In a statement, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said that he will bring up with the main office of DSWD the situation in Bacolod City, noting also that the situation in Bacolod is not far different from other areas in the country where similar activities were undertaken.
“There is a need to improve their system” Gasataya said.*
