The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office (FO) Caraga has disclosed that over 19,000 distressed individuals have been given financial assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program from January to June this year.
Around 19, 223 clients have been served for the first semester of 2020, which translates to over P75.6 million worth of financial aid, the DSWD FO Caraga said.
"For this year’s first semester, a total amount of Php75,622,795.80 were given to the individuals in need of financial assistance," it said in a Facebook post.
The FO Caraga said of the 19, 223 AICS clients in the region, 13,771 or 72.16 percent were given medical assistance; 2,477 or 12.89 percent were given burial assistance; 1,524 or 7.93 percent were provided with cash assistance; 928 or 4.83 percent were given food assistance, 355 or 1.85 percent were extended with educational assistance, and 168 ot 0.87 percent were provided with transportation assistance.
It noted there was a 4.28 percent-decrease in the number of total clients served by FO Caraga compared to the 20,083 AICS recipients recorded during the second semester of 2019
"The reason for the decrease of clients is due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that the country is facing right now," it said.
It explained that the Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), which is major implementing arm of the AICS, "was mandated to only cater to 50 clients per day in the FO, while 30 clients were served in the satellite offices."
According to DSWD FO Caraga, it forged partnership with the Davao Jubilee Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled Inc. in Davao City to strengthen its delivery of rehabilitation and treatment services for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
"DSWD FO Caraga pulled out all the stops to deliver its mandate satisfactorily, even with the great challenges brought about by the pandemic," it said.