Clients seeking assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) can expect a more comfortable and efficient experience with the upcoming opening of a new satellite office in Commonwealth, Quezon City on Thursday (July 31).
Located at the Paragon Place beside Ever Gotesco Commonwealth, the new satellite Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) will exclusively cater to individuals availing of services under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“We are very excited to deliver this news to our kababayans. Located at a mall, this new office offers a more client-friendly space, with air conditioning, elevators, and escalators. It’s still near the Central Office but like what we really wanted, overall it offers a better experience,” Director Edwin Morata of the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) said.
Starting July 31, all walk-in and scheduled clients for AICS and AKAP that have been previously taken in the DSWD’s Central Office in Batasan will be redirected to the new location.
Director Morata said this new office reflects the Department’s responsiveness to the needs of its clients, many of whom have expressed a desire for a more comfortable and spacious setting while availing agency services.
“Secretary Rex Gatchalian is very sensitive to what our clients go through. This move is about improving their experience and making our services more accessible and client-centered,” Director Morata pointed out.
The initiative also aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for government services to put a premium on comfort, accessibility, and respect for the time and dignity of the public.
The DSWD’s CIU, the oversight unit for the implementation of the AKAP and AICS, will occupy two floors of the three-story building.
The AICS is one of the social protection programs of the DSWD that provides financial assistance in the form of medical, funeral, transportation, food, and cash relief, including material aid, psychosocial support, and referral services to individuals who are in crisis, as assessed by social workers.
The AKAP provides direct financial assistance to individuals affected by inflation whose income falls below the minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). (LSJ)