A total of 3,899 students in Central Luzon have so far received the one-time educational cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Under the agency’s Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the DSWD-3 has distributed some PHP9 million worth of cash aid that can be used by students for the purchase of school supplies and other materials.

So far, those who have benefited from the program were 1,034 students in the provinces of Tarlac; 802 in Bulacan; 658 in Nueva Ecija; 606 in Pampanga; 605 in Zambales; 184 in Bataan; and 10 in Aurora.

PHP1,000 was given to each pupil in the elementary level; PHP2,000 each for those in junior high school; PHP3,000 in senior high school; and PHP4,000 for those in college/vocational school.

Irene Carag, a 19-year-old student from Hermosa, Bataan who received the educational cash assistance last Aug. 20, thanked the DSWD for the support.

“Magagamit ko po ito pambili ng libro at uniform. Sana po ay marami pang matulungan ang DSWD hindi lang kaming estudyante kundi lahat ng mga nangangailangan (I can use it to buy books and uniform. Hopefully, the DSWD could help a lot not only us students but all those who are in need),” Carag said in social media post.

Helen Gonzaga, a solo parent from Hermosa, Bataan, said the assistance is a big help.

“Maraming salamat po sa ating pamahalaan kasi malaking tulong po sa amin lalo na ako na lang po ang nagpapaaral sa mga anak ko dahil namatay na ang aking asawa (Thank you very much to the government because this is a big help for us, especially that I am the only one sending my children to school because my husband has died),” Gonzaga said. (PNA)