To aid the disadvantaged individuals and families in recovering from unexpected crisis such as illness, death of a family member and other crisis situations, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) implements the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program that provides support through immediate response to their needs. As part of the program, the DSWD also provides financial support to students in need through its educational assistance program.
On September 17, 2022, the DSWD, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), conducted the payout of Educational Assistance at Partido State University (PSU), Goa, Camarines Sur. A total amount of P3, 271,000.00 was released to 1,033 student-beneficiaries from the municipalities of Tigaon, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Sagñay, Goa, and San Jose.
The educational assistance aimed to provide financial support for the students’ needs such as school fees, school supplies, projects, allowance, and other expenses. Depending on the students’ educational level, elementary student-beneficiaries received P1, 000 while college student-beneficiaries received P4, 000.
Among the grateful beneficiaries of the program is the 20-year-old resident of Tambangan, San Jose, Camarines Sur, Allan Pongpong Jr., a 3rd year college student taking up Bachelor of Arts in Communication at PSU. At a loss for words for the immeasurable delight of receiving the financial support, he said, “Mayo na po akong gayong masasabi pa ta the best an program na ini kan DSWD. Kaya dakula an pasalamat mi sa itinao samo na educational assistance ta grabeng tabang na po ini para samo. Kaipuhan mi po ining maray ta mayo naman po akong tatay, si nanay na sana an naghahanapbuhay tapos duwa pa kaming college. Kaya duman pa lang, grabe na an pagpasalamat ko asin ilalaan mi man sa maray arog kan pamasahe sa aroaldaw, [tapos] mabanga man sa magurang ta mabakal man para sa harong.”
“Gigibuhon mi ining simbolismo na dapat pahalagahan mi an itinaong asistensya kan gobyerno samo. Kaya sabi kan samuyang magurang, ‘mag-aradal kamo asin magpasalamat ta ngunyan na college kamo, may nagaarabot na financial [assistance],” he added.
Pongpong’s mother, being a solo parent, struggled to raise their family alone working as a farmer who sometimes earns merely a thousand pesos each month which also varies depending on their harvest. Because of this, Pongpong started applying for part-time jobs and side hustles such as tutorial services and makeup services to help with their family’s daily needs.
Mercy Januario, 47-year-old mother from Cayaoyao, Tigaon, Camarines Sur, happily shared, “Naoogma po ako dawa dai akong turog ta excited siguro, syempre makakabakal na kaya ako kan kaipo kan aki ko sa eskwelahan. Nagsapna na ako ning amay sa harong mi para maenot ako diyan [sa pila] asin ako man giraray an naenot ta mayo pang katawo-tawo pag-abot ko.” Januario received financial support for her daughter in college who is taking up her Diploma in Midwifery in Shepherdville College-Tigaon. The cash assistance that she received will be used for her daughter’s medical kit and uniform as their school requirements.
To help her husband who is a construction worker in providing for their family’s needs, Januario cook and sell snacks such as banana cue, but given the little earnings she got along with the salary and unstable job of her husband, providing for their family of three has been difficult.
With utmost gratitude, she added, “Talagang napakaimportante na may arog kaining programa an DSWD ta nakakagian sa samuyang naghahanapbuhay. Nakakatabang na maray ta dai na kami maparaisip ta siguradong matatawan mi na an pangangaipo kan aki mi. Kun mayo ining programa, pirmi na po sana kaming mangungutang. Kaya dakulaon pong bagay ini kasi dai mi na tatrabahuhan na gayo para makua an arog kaining kantidad.”
“Kaya salamat pong maray sa DSWD asin sana padagos sinda sa pagtaong tabang sa mga tios na arog mi ta dakulaon na bagay ini para samuya na mayong regular income. Asin salamat man po sa namumuno sa satuyang probinsya, ki Governor Luigi Villafuerte, ta padagos niya man pigsusuportaran an mga arog kaining activity o tabang sa satuyang probinsya,” she concluded.
With the aim to extend support to students and families challenged by the sudden crisis as well as the pandemic, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur under the leadership of Governor Luigi Villafuerte, continues to give its full support through various initiatives and collaborative efforts with the national and local government agencies to provide a better quality of life to all the Camarinenses.
