Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday (March 18) said the agency will soon launch an online system for the issuance of guarantee letters (GL) under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), as this will do away with the repeated interview assessment by allowing clients to submit their documents digitally.
“Meron kasing mga kliyente ng DSWD na hindi na ina-assess verbally kundi sa papel na lang dahil chronic naman ‘yong sakit. Ibig sabihin, may record na kami na itong taong ito ay lagi na da-dialysis, so uulitin lang natin after 3 months, so hindi na kailangan ng interview ‘yon, i-a-upload lang ‘yong mga requirement niya,” Secretary Gatchalian said when asked by Cheryl Cosim about the assessment and evaluation part of the client during an interview over One Balita Pilipinas.
The DSWD chief said individuals undergoing regular dialysis, chemotherapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and those with disabilities or special needs will no longer be required to go through repeated face-to-face interviews.
“Yong iba pang chronic sickness, like ‘yong nag-ki-chemotherapy, ‘yong mga nag-pi-physical therapy, ‘yong may mga occupational health, and ‘yong sa mga people with special needs and disability, lahat naman ‘yan ay recurring, so kaya na natin na one-time assessment lang, the rest submission na lang ng documents,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The ongoing development of the online portal to automate the provision of GLs is part of the DSWD’s broader plan to fully digitalize the provision of AICS, ensuring a more efficient and accessible system for those in crisis situations.
“Sa katunayan, halos patapos na kami. Ang una nating io-automate ‘yung guarantee letter na binibigay ng DSWD, para hindi na nila kailangang pumunta sa aming mga tanggapan, diretso na sa portal na lang i-a-apply, at pwede na sila pumunta sa partner hospital. Sa madaling panahon, ilalabas na rin natin ‘yan, ‘yung automated na AICS system kung tawagin,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
According to the DSWD chief, there will be a pilot implementation before a large-scale implementation of the system.
“Magpa-pilot na kami, bago natin i-large-scale. Pero definitely, within the next couple of months ila-launch na natin ‘to,” Secretary Gatchalian said. (YADP)