ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to maximize the Learners Information System of the Department of Education so that parents and students did not have to bombard teachers asking for certificates of enrollment.

A certificate of enrollment is one of the documents needed for students to avail of the cash aid being given by the DSWD.

Castro said that the huge number of people who rushed to the central and regional offices of the DSWD proves that many Filipino students and families need aid.

“Ang napakahabang pila sa central at regional offices ng DSWD ay matibay na katibayan ng paghihirap ng ating mga kababayan. Hirap na sila para sa kanilang mga gastusin sa araw-araw, hirap din para sa paghahanda sa balik-paaralan ng kanilang mga anak,” she said.

The lawmaker added that the stampede could have been avoided had the DSWD set up a more efficient way of distributing the cash aid.

She said that the DSWD should have asked the help of local government units so that people did not have to crowd central and regional offices.

“We will continue to push for higher education budget and financial assistance in the upcoming budget deliberations for 2023,” Castro said.