The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin piloting a digital system for processing and issuance of guarantee letters (GLs) under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program by the 4th quarter of 2025, an agency official said on Thursday (July 3).
“Ipa-pilot po namin yung bagong AICS system by 4th quarter of this year. Sa ngayon po, ang inayos ng ating system ay paiksiin po ang pag-aantay ng mga guarantee letter. Mayroon pa po kaming tinitingnan na mga improvements, kung sakali pong payagan ng ating mga guidelines, baka po pwede naming gawin na huwag na pumunta rito sa amin yung mga kliyente,” Asst. Secretary for Information and Communications Technology and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Johannes Paulus Acuña told reporters at the DSWD Thursday Media Forum at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
Asst. Secretary Acuña said the online system aims to digitize and streamline the current process of requesting guarantee letters, where clients physically visit DSWD offices, bring documentary requirements, and fall in line.
“Dito po sa improvement natin dito sa AICS system, yung GL po ay online na mave-verify noong ating mga partner organizations—pharmacies, hospitals. Yung integrity po ng system ay pinapataas natin, yung convenience rin po sa ating mga kliyente, hindi na nila kailangang dalahin yung mga papel,” Asst. Secretary Acuña said.
The AICS is one of the social protection services of the DSWD that provides medical, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance to individuals who are in crisis.
In the current process, social workers assess each client via face-to-face interview.
Asst. Secretary Acuña said part of the digitalization effort is exploring the use of technology for online client interviews and assessment, inspired by teleconsultation practices during the pandemic.
“Siguro pamilyar po kayo doon sa concept ng teleconsulting. Hindi po sila kailangang magkita face-to-face. Tinitingnan po namin yung mga social worker interviews, kung pwedeng gawin, ay gamitan na rin ng technologies para at the convenience ng ating mga kliyente. Tatawagan na lang po ng ating social workers at doon na po mag-iinterview, few hours or few minutes, pag approved, available na ang guarantee letter,” Asst. Secretary Acuña pointed out.
While the system seeks to reduce waiting hours and improve service delivery, Asst. Secretary Acuña explained that offline or analog services will still be available for clients without access to digital tools.
“Hindi po namin masasabi na lahat ng kliyente namin ay may kakayanan mag-access ng mga online and digital services. Mayroon pa rin pong sasalo na analog service delivery mode, yung sa mga pila, pero para ito sa mga hirap o walang access,” Asst. Secretary Acuña told reporters. (YADP)