- BERT BAYORAN
The first day of the distribution of cash aid to student-beneficiaries by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Saturday at a shopping mall in Bacolod City almost resulted in a stampede after the crowd rushed inside, and damaged the mall’s automatic door.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson yesterday said that recipients from outside of Bacolod were asking why they have to go to the city.
Lacson said that the distribution should have been done through the local government units, at the very least, by district.
“Let this be an experience for future planning,” Lacson said.
The recipients, estimated at 2,000, had started lining up outside the mall since Friday night.
Despite the incident, the DSWD reported to have distributed P2.2 million in educational assistance to 587 students in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City on the first Saturday of the payout.
The releasing of assistance will continue on Aug. 27, and the four Saturdays of September, the DSWD said.
Qualified elementary pupils will receive P1,000 each, high school students get P2,000 each, P3,000 for senior high school, and P4,000 for college students.
In a statement, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said that he will bring to the main office of the DSWD the situation in Bacolod City, noting that similar incidents happened in other areas in the country.
“There is a need to improve their system,” Gasataya said./GB
