More than 3.8 million clients nationwide have received various types of aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said on Tuesday (October 31).

According to Asst. Sec. Lopez, who is also DSWD spokesperson, a total of 3,799,979 individuals were served by the Department from January to September 2023 through its AICS program at the DSWD Central Office and in the various regions across
the country.

“The AICS program has been instrumental in extending different types of support to individuals and families who are experiencing various forms of crises” Asst. Sec. Lopez said.

The types of aid provided under the AICS program include educational, medical, transportation, burial and food assistance.

The Department also handed out hot meals, family food packs (FFPs), assistive devices, and psychosocial support to the clients, the DSWD spokesperson noted.

“Indeed, the program has been a lifeline for millions of Filipinos to enable them to overcome their challenging circumstances ” Asst. Sec. Lopez emphasized.

Based on the official report, the most sought aid was psychosocial support with more than 1.7 million clients assisted, followed by food and medical aid with over 1.4 million and 1.1 million assistance provided, respectively.

Asst. Sec. Lopez emphasized that the number of individuals assisted by the DSWD is higher than the actual number of clients served as individuals can avail of more than one assistance under the AICS program every three months.

The DSWD spokesperson also pointed out that the increased number of clients served is a result of the streamlined process, as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2022.

Earlier this year, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian instructed concerned Department officials to bring the AICS program closer to its clients by establishing satellite offices.

To date, the Department has AICS processing areas in Caloocan City, Parañaque City, Pasig City, San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and Montalban in Rizal. #