Manila – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expressed gratitude for the Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) approval of an additional PHP3 billion for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, calling it timely given the increasing demand for support services.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez stated that this additional funding, approved on November 16, will help address budget deficiencies for the agency's AICS program. This aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to strengthen social protection measures. The funds will enable the DSWD to provide various aids, including medical, burial, transportation, educational, food, and financial assistance. The approval of the supplementary budget is seen as a commitment of the Marcos administration to addressing the needs of poor and vulnerable Filipinos. Senate finance committee chair Senator Juan Edgardo Angara has also filed a bill to institutionalize the DSWD's financial aid program, recognizing its significant impact during the Covid-19 pandemic. This move is aimed at creating a system capable of responding to Filipinos' needs in extreme circumstances.