MANILA- In 2023, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended aid to more than 6.5 million Filipinos in need through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez announced this achievement on Saturday.
According to the Philippines News Agency, the number of beneficiaries served by the AICS program last year exceeded the annual target of 1,691,869 by more than fourfold. Lopez emphasized the significant demand for government support among Filipinos and reassured the DSWD's dedication to meeting these needs through the AICS program. He noted that the program provided a range of interventions, including medical, food cash, burial/funeral, and transportation assistance, as well as psychosocial support.
The process involves assessing each client by DSWD social workers to determine the most suitable types of assistance for their specific crisis situation. Lopez pointed out that food assistance, psychosocial support, and medical aid were the most frequently requested services under the AICS. He also highlighted that the majority of AICS beneficiaries, over 870,000 individuals, were from the Calabarzon region.
Additionally, Lopez mentioned that more than 314,700 individuals received services from various Malasakit Centers across the country. These centers, located in hospitals run by the Department of Health, the Philippine General Hospital, and other public hospitals, function as a one-stop-shop where indigent and financially incapacitated patients can access medical and financial assistance from government agencies such as the DSWD, PhilHealth, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Lopez assured that the DSWD, under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., would continue to implement protective services, ensuring that Filipinos in need receive timely and effective assistance from the government.