THE ONLINE registration for the educational aid program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development has not ended, Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez said.

Lopez issued the statement following reports that some students found it difficult to register online.

“Hindi naman po sa pinapaasa namin, kasi nga po, ayaw namin na may makaligtaan kami kahit sa application man lang… sa dami ng nag-apply sa amin, talaga pong may possibility, malaki ang possibility, na may mga kababayan po talaga tayo na hindi po maabot ng tulong,” Lopez said.

The DSWD received around two million applications for the education aid program.

Lopez said that only 142,175 more applicants will be given aid as 257,265 others have received the cash aid.

Of the P1.5 billion budget for the program, around P649.8 million had been distributed.

The department had P900 million left for educational assistance.

Under the DSWD’s education aid program, up to three students per indigent family can receive cash aid – P1,000 for elementary students, P2,000 for high school students, P3,000 for senior high school students and P4,000 for tertiary students.

The financial assistance will be available at the DSWD central, regional, provincial, and other local offices starting August 24 and every Saturday until September 24, 2022.