The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ensured the “easiest and fastest” method of distributing cash aid to residents affected by severe tropical storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) in accordance with existing auditing rules and regulations.

In implementing the provision of financial help under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the DSWD said it follows the improved and simplified guidelines of the program set forth in Memorandum Circular No. 16 series of 2022 to extend such help for households affected by ‘Paeng’ in a timely and effective manner.

“What we want is to properly provide aid, whether it is food pack or cash assistance. I want it to be smooth and continuous, as well as make it easier for our fellow Filipinos,” DSWD Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo said in a statement.

The DSWD stressed that it only requires a copy of a valid Identification (ID) card or any alternative document for the identification of storm-affected residents in order to process their request for a cash grant under the AICS program.

It also pointed out that disaster victims, who may not have a valid ID available, still need to present a barangay certification or justification from the DSWD Social Welfare Officer regarding the absence of their ID.

The DSWD enforces this only requirement to comply with audit rules and to ensure that they have properly accounted for the public funds.

Tulfo made the clarification following the complaint of Noveleta, Cavite Mayor Dino Chua that the DSWD-CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) needs many documents before providing financial assistance to his constituents who suffered from the onslaught of Paeng.

He clarified that some residents of Noveleta were not given cash assistance because they were not included in the list provided by the concerned local government unit (LGU) or these individuals could not present the required identification document.

Last August, Tulfo directed the DSWD to review its guidelines for frontline programs, including AICS, to speed up the release of aid to families and individuals in difficult circumstances who need immediate support.

Based on existing guidelines, beneficiaries must comply and meet the requirements, including an identification document and justification from the concerned LGU, to receive cash assistance under the AICS program.

The DSWD also appealed to the LGUs to help identify their respective constituencies and to assist in the general distribution of aid to the affected population.