DSWD eyes resumption of cash aid to individuals in crisis within 2 weeks

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said it may resume the distribution of aid under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program within two weeks.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez, the distribution was halted as they are still waiting for their fund for 2023 to be downloaded.

“Inaasahan po natin na within a week or baka two, baka maximum na po ‘yan. Baka nga po within the week ma-download na po ito. Agaran po natin ire-resume, agaran po natin ibabalik ito pong pamamahagi ng cash assistance,” he said during the public briefing.

(We are expecting this within a week or maybe two, maybe this is already the maximum. Maybe within the week, the fund will be downloaded already. We will immediately resume the distribution of the cash assistance.)

Despite this, Lopez said the agency can still process assistance from clients whose service providers acknowledge the guarantee letter of the agency.

“Maaari pa naman po magproseso ng assistance ang inyong DSWD doon po sa mga kliyente na ‘yung mga service provider po nila… ay tumatanggap o kinikilala ‘yung guarantee letter ng DSWD,” he said.

(We can still process assistance from clients whose service providers accept or acknowledge the guarantee letter of the DSWD.)

“‘Yun nga lang po, uulitin ko po, suspindido po muna ‘yung outright cash assistance sa ilalim ng AICS dahil po hinihintay po natin maisaayos po ‘yung pondo natin ngayong taon,” he added.

(However, I will repeat, the outright cash assistance under AICS is suspended because we are waiting for our funds for this year.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News