The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has deployed more social workers and support staff to its new Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) processing center to speed up service for thousands of Filipinos seeking financial aid daily.

DSWD Assistant Secretary and co-spokesperson Juan Carlo Marquez said the additional manpower will help maximize the new facility, which can handle up to 1,000 clients at a time.

“Nagdagdag tayo ng mga social workers na nagsasagawa ng interview at assessment. Ang capacity ng ating bagong processing office ay kayang mag-accommodate ng 1,000 katao at a given time. Ibig sabihin mas madami na tayong matutulungan sa loob ng isang araw sa mas convenient na lugar (We added social workers conducting interviews and assessments. The new processing office can accommodate 1,000 people at a given time. This means we can help more people in one day in a more convenient location),” Marquez said in a statement on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The agency said the new system also cut processing time, with only three steps required, which are securing a queue number; interview and assessment by social workers; and release of assistance.

“Kung dati ay mayroon tayong limang steps, dahil sa ating ginawang streamlining of processes, tatlo na lang po ang steps natin (If before, we had five steps, but because of the streamlining of processes, we now only have three),” he explained.

The agency said it transferred its AICS processing operations from its Central Office in Batasan to the Commonwealth Satellite Office in Paragon Place, Quezon City, last July 31.

“Ngayon, dahil sa ating paglipat at pagtugon sa direktiba ng ating Kalihim, Secretary Rex Gatchalian, mas maluwag, mas maaliwalas, convenient at mas malamig na po ang ating bagong opisina (Now, because of the transfer and in line with Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s directive, our new office is more spacious, airy, convenient, and cooler),” Marquez said.

“Mas pinalapit na rin ito sa mga pampublikong transportasyon tulad ng tricycle at jeepney terminal at soon to open na MRT station (It is also closer to public transport such as tricycle and jeepney terminals and the soon-to-open MRT station).”