Department of Social Welfare and Development in Ilocos region conducts an orientation with assistance beneficiaries (File photo from DSWD Ilocos)
MANILA, Philippines – Almost four million “individuals in [a] crisis situation” will benefit from an increase in the proposed budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for protective services.
The DSWD said on Thursday that the Department of Budget and Management has allocated P19.9 billion for DSWD’s Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances (PSIFDC) program.
The program aims to give approximately 3.9 million beneficiaries financial aid nationwide next year.
“This allocation underlines a pivotal step towards ensuring that those in dire circumstances and crises can receive the necessary assistance from the national government through the DSWD,” Department spokesperson Romel Lopez said.
In a press release, Lopez emphasized the funds will be strategically used to improve the delivery of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
“The allocation for the AICS program is not just a numerical figure,” he said.
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“It represents the government’s acknowledgment of the enduring impact of the pandemic on our kababayans (fellow citizens), especially those in marginalized communities and vulnerable sectors,” the DSWD spokesperson added.
AICS is a DSWD program that provides various services such as cash assistance for food, transportation, medical services and funeral costs, among others.