The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is a catch-all, all inclusive, stop-gap measure with the assistance provided depending on the situation being faced by the client – whether poor or middleclass, an agency official explained on Thursday (June 19).
DSWD Director Edwin Morata of the Crisis Intervention Division (CID) also debunked prevailing perception that the AICS program is only for the poor and that the program was making the poor “lazy” and dependent on the DSWD.
“Ang AICS ay isa sa mga frontline services ng Departamento. Isa po itong stop gap measure, hindi po ito yung programang magtatawid from kahirapan…Ang tina-target dito sa AICS ay (iyong) crisis situation. Naniniwala po kasi kami sa siyentipikong pagtingin ng social worker na ang isang tao ay maaaring may kakayahang tumugon sa kanyang pangangailangan. But there is a situation that shocked them and their capacity to provide for their situation kaya dito pumapasok ang AICS,” Director Morata told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center.
The CIU director also reiterated that there is no need for a referral letter for those who are genuinely experiencing a crisis.
Those in need and would like to avail of the program may go directly to the DSWD offices nearest to their residences from 8am to 5pm, Mondays to Fridays.
“Catch all po ang AICS. Wala po kaming pinipili dito, mayaman o mahirap, may trabaho or wala. Pag may sitwasyong nakaapekto sa kanilang indibidwal na pamamaraan, tumutulong po tayo,” Director Morata pointed out.
Aside from the poor and the vulnerable, the DSWD also provides the AICS to those financially incapacitated; internally displaced persons; and persons of concerns such as refugees, asylum seekers, and families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Another aspect of the program that Director Morata explained was the notion that AICS is a purely financial assistance or plain “ayuda”.
The DSWD official said the right interventions provided to the clients availing AICS is based on their current situation. Among the assistance which can be provided are financial and material, psychosocial support, and referral services. The material aid includes family food packs (FFPs) and assistive devices.
“This (AICS) is not merely ‘ayuda’. This is ‘ayuda’ with a heart and process. Hindi lang po basta nagbibigay ng pera dito. Inaaral talaga ng ating manggagawang panlipunan kung ano ba talagang aspeto ang pwedeng ibigay sa kanila na nakapaloob sa program,” Director Morata explained.
Under the AICS program, the Department can provide burial, medical, food, transportation assistance, and help in hospital bills payment through the issuance of guarantee letters (GL).
As an enhancement to the program, the DSWD forged partnerships with pharmaceutical companies like the Mercury Drug and St. Joseph’s pharmacies in Northern Luzon.
Under the partnership, clients assessed to have needs for medicines are issued a guarantee letter which they can present in partner-pharmacies.
“Southstar (partnership) is on-going and we are also trying to finalize our engagement with Generika. With the Mercury Drugstore, we have 92 existing partners nationwide and on-going pa po yung expansion nang 88 additional pharmacies nationwide,” the CIU director said.
On the amount to be provided, Director Morata stressed it is based on the assessment of the social worker on the client’s situation. The maximum amount of cash assistance is up to P10,000 but a higher amount can be provided through the issuance of a GL. (GDVF)