The House Committee on Social Services has approved the consolidation of a measure, which seeks to institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

During a hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 16, the House panel chaired by Nueva Ecija 3rd district Rep. Rosanna “Ria” Vergara approved the formation of a technical working group (TWG) to consolidate nine different House bills (HBs) for the AICS institutionalization.

These measures seek to make the AICS a permanent function of the DSWD in order to “ensure undisrupted and sustained provision of immediate relief to the marginalized sector in crisis situations".

“The inclusion of the AICS Program in the devolution of programs and services of the Executive Department to the local governments under EO (Executive Order) No. 138 dated June 1, 2021 should be studied assiduously,” Vergara said on Nov. 16, referring to the EO made in support of the Mandanas Ruling.

It mandates the devolution of certain functions of the executive branch of government–among which is the AICS–to be handled by local government units (LGUs) so as to empower LGUs. The authors of the nine bills expressed worry that a devolution of the AICS might hinder its accessibility and distribution to beneficiaries.

Vergara, in her opening remarks, regarded the AICS as the DSWD’s most successful program. Citing figures from the DSWD, she said that the program had a high utilization rate in 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Specifically, it had served 1,224,270 beneficiaries versus its original target of 877,444 clients, or an overshoot of 140 percent. The program had a P8.7-billion allocation in 2020 and disbursed 92.8 percent of its budget or P8.1-billion.

Vergara’s HB 5948 is one of the nine bills to be consolidated.

House Committee on Appropriations Vice Chairperson and Marikina City 2nd district Rep. Stella Quimbo will lead the TWG. Her measure, HB 498, will be included in the consolidation.

“The DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), a conditional cash transfer program, is a classic example of a redistributive program of the government to help the poor send their kids to school. While the 4Ps help poor households transition out of poverty, the AICS prevent poor households from being pushed further into poverty. Both national programs are effective interventions in keeping poor children in school and preventing them from dropping out, especially when their families face difficult situations such as natural disasters, crime and armed conflicts, health problems, the death of a family's main income earner, and so much more,” Quimbo said in her sponsorship of HB 498.

“In the same manner that the institutionalization of 4Ps has helped reduce poverty in our country, it is my hope that we share the same conviction that the institutionalization of the AICS is helping reduce the vulnerability of our people...This bill would allay fears about the program being abolished or scaled down when we need it the most, as institutionalization would ensure continuous funding of the AICS program. There is no better time than now to pass this bill as we face new headwinds on the global front while still recovering from the pandemic,” she continued.

The nine measures due for consolidation are 498, 998, 1940, 2480, 3386, 4429, 5489, 5948, and 6028.