Close to 1 million Filipinos in need have received medical help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) for the first half of the year 2025.

DSWD spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said the provision of medical assistance under the AICS continues to ensure that Filipinos struggling to cover financial costs of their health and medical needs are met with a helping hand from the government.

“A sudden illness or medical emergency can cripple a family that is already struggling. The same can be said sa mga kliyente natin na kahit may kaya or kita pero ‘pag may nagkasakit sa pamilya, nahaharap sa malaking dagok at krisis. Through our AICS program, we provide appropriate support so they can avail of needed medical services or interventions, and eventually recover,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said on Wednesday (July 16).

From January to June 2025, a total of 953,560 clients were assisted by the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) of the DSWD’s Operations Group with more than Php8.5 billion in medical aid.

The majority of the clients or 670,825 have secured medical aid in outright cash assistance while 282,735 clients were given guarantee letters (GLs) to cover hospitalization costs, medicine, and diagnostic procedures.

Outright cash can go up to Php10,000 in medical aid while GLs are often issued to clients to assist them in settling hospital bills or buying maintenance medicines.

“Every client naman po, dumadaan sa assessment ng mga social workers natin para matukoy natin kung ano ‘yung halaga na kinakailangan nila. Whether it’s for assistance para sa maintenance medicines, crucial medical treatment or doon sa mga may mga iniinda pong sakit na kinakailangan ng regular medical interventions,” the DSWD spokesperson explained.

The agency also reported that 88,082 clients were served through Malasakit Centers, where DSWD medical assistance is made closer to public hospitals.

“Masaya po tayo na marami po tayong natutulungan, dahil mandato natin ay maabot ang mga nangangailangan nating kababayan to the best of our ability. Bilin din po ito ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dahil para sa kanya ang bawat buhay mahalaga,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

Mary Rose Hermosure from Tondo, Manila is among the clients who have sought medical help from the DSWD and eventually received a GL amounting to Php300,000 to pay for her mothers’ hospital bill.

“Madali naman po, mabilis lang. Although may pila, pero mabilis lang naman po ang pag-process po. Basic din naman po yung tinatanong nila kung bakit na-ospital ang mother ko, kung first time po ba na lumapit ako sa DSWD, mga ganun lang po yung mga tanong,” Mary Rose said.

“Masaya po kami na natulungan kami sa ganoong kalaking halaga po. Malaking tulong po siya actually kung i-base mo dun sa amount po nung hospital bill namin sapat na po kasi hindi ko po expect na ganito nga po ang ibibigay sa aking tulong eh,” Mary Rose added.

The DSWD’s AICS has also helped in the successful operation of a 1 year and 6 months old baby who suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a serious form of blood cancer.

Andy Paul Argao, the father of Baby Audria said the DSWD was a crucial partner in ensuring that his baby will be met with proper interventions.

“Nag-schedule po ako na pumunta dito sa DSWD at nagsimula po akong alamin kung ano po ‘yung proseso sa paghingi po ng financial assistance. Napakalaking tulong po ng naibigay po ng DSWD dahil naging maganda po ‘yung takbo ng kanyang chemotherapy,” Andy said.

Andy and his wife’s determination to keep Audria by their side was met by financial support from the DSWD. Eventually, Audria’s fight against cancer has shown drastic improvement.

Now, Baby Audria is on the way to full recovery.

“Medical aid is one of the most concrete ways we fulfill our role as lead agency in social
safety nets. We do not want any Filipino to be left alone during their most vulnerable moment and rest assured that the direction of the developments or innovations that we are leading are always for the best interest of our kababayans,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.

Since 2014, the DSWD’s AICS medical assistance program has served more than 8.5 million clients. (LSJ)