As part of the DSWD’s role, it helps students who require financial support with their education on an annual basis. This program is known as the AICS Educational Assistance program. Filipino students who want to avail of this one-time per school-year cash assistance and are living in Region 2 area (Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino), you may check the requirements and see if you are qualified to receive the cash benefit.
But because of how the government chooses who gets these grants, this has recently become rather contentious. Despite the controversy surrounding the matter, the department still offers aid to deserving students who require financial support. For information on how to apply for financial aid, student applicants based in Region 2 can refer to the DSWD Field Office 2’s instructions.
What is the AICS Educational Assistance Program?
AICS, or “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations,” is a DWSD initiative that offers people in need access to food, medicine, transportation, and other essentials. In this instance, the assistance is for educational objectives. Learn more about the program’s participants, guidelines, and procedures here.
As the name implies, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) – Educational Assistance Program aids students financially. You can use this cash to cover expenses like tuition, books, supplies, projects, allowances, and other bills.
Due to a lack of funding for this program, the DSWD is focusing its efforts on helping “students in need.”
Qualifications for the DSWD Educational Assistance Program by DSWD Field Office 2
What exactly does a “student in crisis” mean? According to the DSWD, a student in distress is one who:
- Working student;
- Breadwinner of the family;
- Child of a solo parent;
- Child whose parents are unemployed;
- Child of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW);
- Child of a parent with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV);
- Orphaned/abandoned child living with relatives;
- Victim of abuse; or
- Victim of calamity or natural disaster.
Benefits of the DSWD Educational Assistance Program by DSWD Field Office 2
How much financial aid does the programme offer for education? The following financial aid may be available to qualified recipients, depending on their educational background:
- Elementary — PHP 1,000.00
- High School — PHP 2,000.00
- Senior High School — PHP 3,000.00
- Vocational/College — PHP 4,000.00
Requirements of the DSWD Educational Assistance Program by DSWD Field Office 2
You must fulfil the following criteria in order to be eligible for DSWD Educational Assistance:
- School ID of the student;
- Valid ID of parent or guardian;
- Certificate of Registration/Enrollment; and
- Statement of Account indicating the name of the school and the student’s miscellaneous fees.
NOTE: The parent or legal guardian of the student will be given the educational support. Verify the authenticity of the documents to make sure they are not fakes. There will be legal repercussions for anyone who submits false documents.
Procedures to Avail of the DSWD Educational Assistance Program – DSWD Region 2 (Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino)
An application for the DSWD’s Educational Assistance Program can be submitted online via Google forms for your respective provinces. They are as follows:
CAGAYAN: bit.ly/EA4Cagayan
ISABELA: bit.ly/EA4Isabela
QUIRINO: bit.ly/EA4Quirino
NUEVA VIZCAYA: bit.ly/EA4Vizcaya
BATANES: bit.ly/EA4Batanes
At the DSWD Field office, your application will undergo initial assessment by a Social Worker — for verification and approval — before payout of the educational aid.
All those who register online will go through the assessment of DSWD social workers based on the applicants’ online registration form.
Students-in-crisis students will receive a text (SMS)/call from DSWD Field Office 02 on when and where the pay-out will be carried out.
As for the schedule of “Educational Assistance Payout,” this will be held every Saturday, on the following dates: August 20, August 27, September 3, September 10, September 17, and September 24, 2022 — at the DSWD Central Office and Field Offices.
Note: Those who receive text messages are advised to bring their own water and food.
Video: The DSWD Educational Assistance Programs
Watch this video on the DSWD’s Facebook page where DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo describes the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) – Educational Assistance Program:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked inquiries regarding the DSWD’s AICS Educational Assistance Program in the meantime:
1. How much educational assistance can I get?
The financial aid amounts are as follows: (a) PHP 1,000 for elementary school; (b) PHP 2,000 for high school; (c) PHP 3,000 for senior high school; and (d) PHP 4,000 for vocational/college.
2. How do I know if I am qualified for educational assistance?
As previously indicated, the program is strictly for “students in crisis.” If you are one of the following, you are considered a student in crisis: (a) working student; (b) family breadwinner; (c) child of a single parent; (d) child whose parents are unemployed; (e) child of an overseas Filipino worker (OFW); (f) child of a parent infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV); (g) orphaned/abandoned child living with relatives; (h) victim of abuse
3. How can I apply for educational assistance?
You can submit an application for DSWD Educational Assistance in person at the regional or field office closest to you, or through email at ciu.co@dswd.gov.ph. Before your request for financial aid for education is approved, a social worker will review it.
4. When is the pay out of the educational assistance?
In 2022, the following Saturdays will see the distribution of the DSWD’s educational assistance: August 20, August 27, September 3, September 10, September 17, and September 24. The DSWD Central Office opens on the specified days at 7:00 a.m. to accept applications and start disbursing funds, while DWSD Field Offices across the nation open at 8:00 a.m.
5. Who can I call to ask about the program?
Please call their Agency Operations Center (AOC) at the numbers provided below if you have any inquiries, worries, or complaints about the program or any other DSWD programme.
- Smart — 0943 464 8026 / 0943 464 8086 / 0932 933 3251
- Globe — 0995 715 3926 / 0995 715 3934
NOTE: The aforementioned lines can be reached from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
Summary
The DSWD’s AICS Educational Assistance Program had helped more than 48,000 students as of August 20th, 2022. These students can use the more than PHP 141 million in aid toward their educational costs. Please get in touch with your neighbourhood DSWD office if you or your kids think they qualify for this program.
DISCLAIMER: The main objective of this manual is to disseminate general knowledge. Visit their official website and Facebook page for more details about the Educational Assistance Program.
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Contact Information: DSWD Region 2
If you have any questions, please contact the DSWD Field Office 2 at the following address:
Address: 2 Pan-Philippine Hwy, Carig Regional Center, Tuguegarao, 3500 Cagayan
Telephone: 0783041004
Website: https://fo2.dswd.gov.ph/
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