Even after the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the country’s vulnerable sectors can expect the government’s continued implementation of its social protection services, such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista said while Congress has yet to pass Bayanihan 3 or the Bayanihan to Arise as One Act, those who have been affected by the pandemic can count on DSWD.

“In the absence of the law, tuloy tuloy pa rin po ang aming regular programs in terms of social protection (the implementation of our regular programs continue in terms of social protection). One program is the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation. We are talking here of cash assistance, hospital assistance, food assistance, burial and even educational assistance,” he said at a pre- State of the Nation (SONA) media launch virtual presser on Wednesday, July 7.

“Sa ngayon karamihan ng beneficiaries ay talagang affected by the pandemic, particularly we are talking here of fisherfolk, the farmer sector, ‘yung sabihin natin nawalan ng trabaho even OFWs, tuloy tuloy ang ating pagbibigay ng ayuda in the different parts of the country (Right now, most of the beneficiaries are really affected by the pandemic, particularly we are talking here of fisherfolk, the farmer sector, let’s say even those who have lost their jobs, even the OFWs. We will continue to provide assistance in different parts of the country),” he stressed.

The DSWD chief expressed the agency’s support to the proposed P401-billion Bayanihan 3, which calls for the distribution of an initial P2,000 to all 108 million Filipinos and an additional P10,000 to those who were displaced and suffered financial distress due COVID-19 pandemic.

“The DSWD supports any bill or any proposal that will provide subsidies to our kababayan (countrymen) in the midst of pandemic,” he said.

He said even though quarantine restrictions have been eased, many Filipinos, including OFWs and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have been struggling to make ends meet.

“Hopefully, if that will be realized, malaking tulong ito sa ating kababayan. At the end of the day , ayun ang isang pamamaraan para mapababa ang sinasabi nating poverty incidence (Hopefully, if that will be realized, this will be a great help to our countrymen. At the end of the day, that is one way to reduce the so-called poverty incidence),” Bautista said.

In May, the DSWD reported that as of April 30, 2021, it has served 688,590 clients nationwide under AICS with over P2.8 billion total amount disbursed.

Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/05/19/dswd-provides-more-than-p2-8-b-aid-to-over-688k-persons-in-crisis-situations/