Asdolo, a second-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing student at Iloilo Doctor’s College, is just one of the thousands student recipients from the city and province of Iloilo of the  educational assistance under the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The same sentiment was expressed by Fort Ian Dubrea from San Antonio, Molo, another second-year college student taking up Bachelor of Science in Custom Administration at John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University in this city, in a post on DSWD 6 facebook page.

Dubrea said "dako guid nga bulig para sa akon kay may idugang na ako ibakal sang libro nga kinanglan ko sa akon pagtuon kag sa pag pursue ko sang amo ni nga course BS in Custom Administration kag ang the rest idugang ko sa akon tuition kay ma preliminary examination na kami subong nga September (It is a huge help to me because I have additional to buy books that I need in my studies and to pursue this course Bachelor of Science in Custom Administration while the rest I will add for my tuition because we will have already our preliminary examination this September).”

From the village of Layogbato in Lemery town, another recipient Riolyn Delgado thanked DSWD for the AICS educational assistance she received saying this is also a big help since she comes from a poor family who earns a meager income. Her place is identified as Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA) in the province of Iloilo.

An outright cash grant of P1,000 is given for elementary students, P2,000 for high school, P3,000 for senior high school, and P4,000 for college and vocational courses through the program.

DSWD 6 Regional Information Officer lawyer May Rago Castillo reported that during the pay-out on Saturday, September 10, the agency has released P7.8 million educational aid to P2,551 students in crisis in the city and province of Iloilo. Of the total number of recipients, 410 are in the elementary, 402 in high school, 298 in senior high school and 1,441 in college.

For the whole Western Visayas, Castillo said the total disbursement reached P24.7 million benefiting 8,851 recipients. (JBG/laf/PIA6-Iloilo/Photos courtesy of DSWD 6)