The cash payout for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program has been temporarily suspended by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) until the processing of the agency's fund for 2023 is finished.
This was advised by DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez in a public briefing on Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The temporary suspension, he continued, typically occurs at the beginning of every year and may reopen after a week or two.
Meanwhile, the issuance of guarantee letters for AICS beneficiaries which was also halted in the latter part of 2022 has already resumed.
"Ok na po ulit 'yung mga guarantee letter, 'yun nga lang po 'yung atin pong cash assistance sa ilalim nga po ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations o AICS ay pansamantala po muna nating sinuspinde habang pinoproseso pa po 'yung pondo natin, 'yung pondo po ng DSWD ngayong 2023 (The guarantee letters are now OK, it is just that our cash assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or AICS is temporarily suspended while our funds are being processed — the DSWD fund for 2023)," Lopez said.
Better program implementation for 2023
Lopez also assured that DSWD will strengthen its programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Social Pension Program, feeding programs, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, and AICS this 2023.
This was in line with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s mandate of alleviating the socio-economic impact of inflation on the country's most vulnerable sectors, he added.
Lopez noted that DSWD will further simplify the application process for these programs and will also limit the documentary requirements to provide faster services for the public.