Nearly 4M people in crisis to benefit from DSWD's P19.97-B protective services budget for 2024
More individuals in crisis are expected to benefit from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) significant increase in the 2024 budget for protective services, DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Romel Lopez said on Nov. 15.
With a P19.97 billion allocation in the 2024 national budget, he said the department can expand its reach and assist more individuals and families in need.
“This allocation underlines a pivotal step towards ensuring that those in dire circumstances and crises can receive the necessary assistance from the national government through the DSWD,” Lopez pointed out.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Nov. 14 that P19.97 billion has been set aside for the DSWD’s Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances (PSIFDC) program for 2024, noting that it will provide financial assistance to an estimated 3.9 million beneficiaries across the country.
Lopez explained that the funds for protective services will be strategically used to improve the delivery of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The AICS program is one of the DSWD’s frontline services, offering a wide range of services such as cash assistance for food, transportation, medical services, funeral expenses, and other essential needs of those in crisis.
“The allocation for the AICS program is not just a numerical figure, it represents the government’s acknowledgment of the enduring impact of the pandemic on our kababayans, especially those in marginalized communities and vulnerable sectors,” he said.