DSWD Assists Over 950,000 Individuals in Ilocos Region Through Crisis Program
Ilocos Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has provided assistance to 953,149 individuals in the Ilocos Region through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program since 2022. Marie Angela Gopalan, DSWD-Ilocos Region director, shared this during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Region 1 on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, food aid is the most requested form of assistance under the AICS program, reflecting ongoing concerns about hunger especially during crises. The program, which serves as a social safety net, offers a range of support including food, medical, educational, and burial assistance, with food requests totaling 65,809, followed by medical aid at 43,731. The AICS program aims to support individuals and families affected by unexpected life events, helping them recover and meet basic needs.
Gopalan also highlighted that 79,735 households benefited from emergency cash transfers, and 59,502 households participated in cash-for-work and food-for-work programs since 2022. Other DSWD initiatives have reached 606,858 poor and near-poor households, 715,344 children, 156,088 youth, 257,920 women, 272,991 senior citizens, and 2,572 persons with disabilities in the region during this period.
Under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps), about 245,000 households received conditional cash grants, which contributed to educational achievements including five topnotchers, 928 board passers, nearly 300,000 college graduates, 103,000 senior high school graduates, and over 25,000 academic achievers. Gopalan cited the success of 4Ps beneficiary Diana Yna Gironella from Candon City, who placed ninth in the May 2024 licensure examination for teachers, as an example of the program’s impact.
In response to the El Niño and the anticipated La Niña phenomena, DSWD has partnered with the Department of Labor and Employment to prepare for these events through a memorandum of understanding focused on cash-for-work initiatives aimed at maintaining agricultural productivity and managing water during heavy rainfall.
To promote sustainable economic development, the DSWD has also supported the formation of 360 sustainable livelihood program (SLP) associations, involving 28,000 individuals who received entrepreneurship training. Local government units have provided these groups with start-up capital, soft loans, and business management training.
Additionally, 177 4Ps contract of service workers took oaths on Tuesday, ensuring job security and supporting the national poverty reduction strategy in the region.