Cash grants being given under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) range from Php1,000 to Php10,000 depending on the assessment made by social workers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Director Edwin Morata, assistant director of the DSWD’s Protective Services Bureau (PSB) and Officer-In-Charge (OIC) of the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) explained on Saturday (May 3) that the agency’s social workers are the ones making the assessment of individuals who would want to avail of cash assistance either under AICS or AKAP.
“We just want to make it clear that the amount being dispensed by the DSWD under AICS or AKAP can be as low as Php1,000 and as high as Php10,000 depending on the actual needs of the client when the assessment was made by our social workers,” Director Morata pointed out.
The DSWD’s PSB director issued the statement amid reports from Zamboanga City that some beneficiaries of AICS and AKAP have received Php1,000 in cash grant while others were able to receive Php2,000.
The AICS is one of the DSWD’s social protection programs that provides immediate and temporary assistance to individuals and families experiencing crises or difficult life events. It serves as a social safety net to help the poor, vulnerable and marginalized Filipinos meet their basic needs during emergencies.
The AKAP, another DSWD social welfare program, provides financial assistance to individuals earning below the minimum wage since they are the most affected by inflation and economic hardship. The program offers medical, funeral, food and cash assistance based on the assessment of social workers.The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has prohibited the distribution of any forms of financial assistance, popularly known as “ayuda,” 10 days before the May 12 national and local elections or from May 2 to 12.
Only medical and burial assistance under the AICS and AKAP are allowed by the Comelec during the 10-day ayuda ban.DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday (May 2) reminded all the agency’s regional directors to strictly enforce the 10-day ban on the distribution of cash assistance under AICS and AKAP.