MANILA - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided educational assistance to 257,285 indigent students nationwide as of Monday.

Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez, in a "Laging Handa" press briefer, shared that the DSWD has already released PHP649 million to beneficiaries after three Saturdays of the nationwide distribution.

He said the agency still has PHP900 million remaining for the educational aid for three more Saturdays until September 24.

"Naniniwala pa po tayo na sapat pa po ito hanggang sa ating huling payout po sa September 24 (We believe the remaining fund will cover for the distribution until our last payout on September 24)," he added.

Those who are in college or taking up vocational courses account for most of the beneficiaries at 85,000, as of the most recent data.

Lopez said indigent students who have no access to online registration were included in the distribution on September 3 through the assistance of local government units.

"Ito nga po nitong huling payout natin ay inilalaan natin doon po talaga sa walang access sa internet at walang access po sa gadgets (Our last payout was dedicated for those without access to the internet or gadgets)," he said.

The education aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program started August 20.

"This will help students in their school needs such as fees, supplies, projects, allowance, and other school-related expenses," DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo previously said.

The beneficiary must be either of the following: breadwinner, working student, child of a solo parent, child of a repatriated or in-distress overseas worker, child of a parent/parents with human immunodeficiency virus, orphan, child of jobless parents, victim of abuse, or victim of calamity. (PNA)