Sen. Sonny Angara (File photo from the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sonny Angara has filed Senate Bill No. 2032 that will institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The AICS – which gives immediate and temporary relief for those who need it — has been implemented in several situations, the latest of which was for those affected by the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.
“Since its inception, the AICS of the DSWD has been a lifesaver for many families undergoing difficult challenges and as such this program should be institutionalized to ensure it is always there for those in dire need of assistance,” Angara said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Under the bill, low-income families could receive assistance in various forms, including financial and medical.
“With such meager wages, these families end up spending beyond their means and as a result, they are pushed further into poverty. The situation becomes even worse for them when they are faced with emergencies and calamities that are beyond their control,” Angara said.