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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bill seeking to make AICS permanent hurdles House

Bill seeking to make AICS permanent hurdles House

Published Dec 16, 2025 11:41 pm

At A Glance

  • With a vote of 270-8-2 (yes-no-abstain), the House measure seeking to institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) has been approved on third and final reading.
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
The House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


With a vote of 270-8-2 (yes-no-abstain), the House measure seeking to institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) has been approved on third and final reading.
Given final approval by the 300-plus strong legislative chamber during plenary session at the House of Representatives Tuesday, Dec. 16 was House Bill (HB) No.6636.
It was only last Dec. 11 when the bill--a priority measure of the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC)--was passed on second reading.
A consolidation of various measures, HB No.6636 seeks to elevate the AICS program from a mere administrative mechanism to a permanent social protection mandate under the DSWD.
The "ayuda" program provides each qualified beneficiary with financial, medical, transportation, food, material assistance, and other forms of assistance available in the DSWD..
These include referral support, psychosocial support or intervention, and legal consultation, based on the assessment of the social workers of the DSWD.
HB No.6636 sets clear criteria for eligibility, streamlines coordination between agencies and local government units (LGUs), and establishes safeguards such as grievance mechanisms and centralized databases to prevent duplication or abuse.
The bill also includes the establishment of an integrated program delivery system, which concerned agencies and LGUs may access in order to identify the type of assistance available to qualified beneficiaries and for purposes of assistance augmentation.
Under the measure, a congressional oversight committee composed of five senators to be appointed by the Senate President and five representatives to be appointed by the House Speaker will be created to conduct a systematic evaluation of the program and the performance of the implementing agencies.
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