THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide cash assistance to indigent students for the upcoming resumption of in-person classes, DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo announced Thursday, August 18, 2022.Tulfo said P1,000 will be given to elementary students, P2,000 for high school, P3,000 for senior high school and P4,000 for college or vocational students.He said payouts will be conducted every Saturday until September 24 in their central, regional, provincial and satellite offices, which open at 7 a.m.He said there can be three beneficiaries in each family whether through appointment or walk-in.Those who wish to avail of the financial assistance should bring a copy of the student’s enrollment certificate and school ID.“We are hoping na only indigents. Siguro naman ho ‘yung may mga pera hindi na magpupumila diyan ng six hours para makakuha ng pambayad ng ‘ika nga uniporme o school supplies (We are hoping only indigents will show up. Maybe those who have money won’t stand in line for six hours to get paid for that uniform or school supplies),” he said, noting that they ease the number of requirements for the said program.Tulfo said there is no need for parents to bring their elementary or high school students while senior high school, college and vocational students may get their assistance themselves.He said the agency allotted P500 million for the said program.The School Year 2022 to 2023, which marks the resumption of face-to-face classes after two years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), will open on August 22.In a press briefing, the Department of Education (DepEd) said everything is ready for the reopening of schools.“Nung nag-ManCom (management committee) po tayo this week, nag-present ang bawat regional director ng mapping na ginawa nila sa mga schools in their areas. So sa ngayon po, they’re very confident na kasya naman po ang ating mga facilities for the learners,” Deped spokesperson Michael Poa said.(When we met the management committee this week, each regional director presented the mapping they did to the schools in their areas. So right now, they’re very confident that our facilities are suitable for the learners.)He said P3.7 billion were downloaded to their regional offices to ensure that schools have sufficient equipment and supplies necessary for in-person classes, as well as to ensure the observance of minimum health protocols.Poa said 27 million learners, 96 percent of the agency’s target, have so far been enrolled.A total of 24,765 private and public schools nationwide or 46 percent will implement in-person classes for five days, 29,721 schools nationwide or 51.8 percent will implement blended learning modality and 1,004 schools or 1.29 percent will implement full-distance learning.The DepEd earlier said that by November, schools should have transitioned to the conduct of in-person classes five days per week.Poa said the agency will also disburse a cash allowance of P5,000 to all teachers in public schools during the opening of classes on August 22. (SunStar Philippines)