THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) refuted allegations by a Mindanao congressman that the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program was being used to secure signatures for the ongoing People’s Initiative to amend the Constitution.

In a statement, DSWD Spokesperson Romel Lopez said since its establishment, the DSWD and its social welfare programs, including AICS, have been protected against this kind of misuse with all agency personnel strictly adhering to existing rules and regulations in the conduct of payouts to our beneficiaries.

Earlier, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, a former House Speaker, said that AICS is one of the government programs being used to secure the signatures of registered voters in his province.

“Dahil may pinamimigay na pera, pinakamaliit diyan P5,000 kasi yun naman talaga yung AICS… Eh siyempre yung tao willing pumirma dahil gutom yung tao, ang hirap ng buhay,” Alvarez was quoted as saying during an interview.

The DSWD vehemently denied such allegations in the light of the issues surrounding the people’s initiative utilizing AICS and other government programs.

Reports connecting AICS to the people’s Initiative is an outright falsehood and a misrepresentation of DSWD programs.

The DSWD has assured public that thousands of dedicated social workers and development workers will continue to be apolitical and will continue dispensing all kinds of assistance within the bounds of existing guidelines and regulations.

The DSWD’s AICS program provides financial and material assistance to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crisis such as illness or death of a family member, and other crisis situations.

Under AICS, financial assistance is the provision of monetary support in the form of outright cash and/or guarantee letter to augment the resources of the client whereas material assistance is the provision of non-food items.

AICS also provides integrated services such as immediate rescue/ and protection provision of direct financial and material assistance, augmentation during disaster and referrals for immediate medical, legal or psycho-social services.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jester P. Manalastas