Tulfo: Medical teams on standby at DSWD offices

(UPDATED) Twenty-nine people were hurt following a stampede at the Zamboanga City Coliseum where a huge crowd gathered on Friday to get requirements for the student cash aid.

Those injured were between 16 and 58 years old — two males and 27 females — who had been waiting in line for a chance to receive the cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

• Poor students to get between P1K and P4K assistance from DSWD: Tulfo

The victims were rushed to Zamboanga City Medical Center, where they received treatment, including X-rays, and oxygen administration. No one was reported in critical condition.

Hundreds of students and parents gathered and spent the night outside the Zamboanga City High School Main on Friday night to ensure that they could get the required Certificate of Enrollment, part of the requirements to claim the cash assistance.

At a press briefing on Saturday, Social Welfare Sec. Erwin Tulfo said that medical teams were on standby in their regional offices.

"We will take care ’yung mga nasugatan to bring them to the hospital para mapagamot sila," Tulfo said, telling beneficiaries there's no need to rush to their offices as six Saturdays have been allotted for aid distribution.

"Ito 'yung sinasabi natin before... na hindi naman nila kailangang magsiksikan today dahil six na Saturdays po ito.

"We have enough funds to go around, to accommodate these people. Bakit kailangang magsiksikan? 'Yun ang hindi ko maintindihan."

Tulfo also told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo that the long queue will prompt them to "recalibrate" their strategy next Saturday for the dole-out.

The payout for the cash assistance, which starts Saturday and runs for the next six Saturdays until September 24, will be distributed at the DSWD Central Office at Batasan, including all Field and Social Welfare Development Offices at Batasan and satellite offices.

• Students, parents endure queue to get educational aid at DSWD's QC office

Similar scenes were reported in several DSWD provincial offices – from Cagayan to Davao – which teemed with people looking to receive the dole-out.

Scene at the student aid distribution in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Jay Batugal Duruin

Scene at the student aid distribution in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan. Photo courtesy of Jubilee Jay Batugal Duruin

Scene at the student aid distribution in Catbalogan City, Samar. Screengrab from Rommel Rutor's video

Scene at the student aid distribution in Palo, Leyte. Photo courtesy of DSWD Eastern Visayas

Scene at the student aid distribution in Davao. Photo courtesy of DSWD XI

Students and parents trooped to the regional office of the DSWD in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, during the first Saturday of aid distribution.

At the DSWD sub-field office in Catbalogan City, Samar, throngs who hoped to receive assistance braved the heat, as the crowd spilled onto the streets.

Meanwhile, drone shots captured by DSWD Eastern Visayas showed a long line ending up at the DSWD office in Brgy. Candahug, Palo, Leyte.

Thousands of students and parents also endured long lines at regional and provincial satellite offices in the Davao region. – With reports from Queenie Casimiro, Sharon Evite, Harris Julio, and Hernel Tocmo

RELATED VIDEO

Watch more News on iWantTFC