With the commitment to provide assistance for the provincial government unit of Ifugao, Rex Gatchalian, Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), awarded PhP 21 million worth of cheques to the Provincial Government of Ifugao and to its 11 towns to fund the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) at the Provincial Plaza, Poblacion South, Lagawe, Ifugao on June 13, 2023.
During the opening program of the Gotad ad Ifugao, Rowena Niña Taduran, DSWD Undersecretary and Leo Quintilla, DSWD-CAR regional director, handed the PhP 10 million on behalf of Gatchallian that was received by Congressman Solomon Chungalao, Governor Jerry Dalipog, and Vice Governor Glenn Prudenciano.
On the other hand, one million was given to each of the 11 municipality that was received by the respective mayors, Municipal Treasury officials or, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDO).
Also, the AICS is just a part of the government program under the DSWD wherein it is centered in giving temporary assistance to individuals in need like solo parents and Persons with Disabilities (PWD). Particularly, it gives financial assistance to those in need of medical, educational, burial, and transportation help.
Honorable Raldis Andrei A. Bulayungan, mayor of Kiangan, expressed that they are going to use the one million cash assistance in health and education.
“We intend to use that [cheque] more on medical aid to our people and of course hopefully [to the] educational assistance [for the youths]. I’m sure that many parents will be looking for help also to send their children to school. So, we are going to concentrate on medical and educational assistance,” Hon. Bulayungan stated.
In addition to this, assessments are conducted before giving financial assistance. For example, individuals that medicates regularly on kidney dialysis, cancer patients that avails bigger amount than solo parents who receives the minimum. The minimum amount given starts at PhP 3, 000 but does not exceed to PhP 5,000 as it cannot provide for the majority.
According to Cecile Unghiyon, Social Welfare Officer IV of Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), “Usually that would be disbursed on or before December pero kung magbigay ng time ang national government for the liquidation who is the donor, pwedeng maextend kasi kailangan mong iliquidate ang 10 million, hindi lang basta binibigay. (Usually that would be disbursed on or before December but if the donor which is the national government gives more time, it can be extended and the 10 million will be liquidated).
Unghiyon added that there are certain requirements in the different cases wherein for the medical assistance: medical abstract, medical certificate, temporary billing if admitted already, social case study, assessment for urgent cases, ID of proponent; and for educational assistance, it requires Certificate of Enrollment, record of grades, Barangay Certificate of Indigency.
Furthermore, she explained that those who were cannot be accommodated by the municipality will be referred to the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) after being assessed before it will be signed for approval by the governor.
Susana K. Gallangi, MSWDO officer of Lagawe, also expressed how thankful they are to the national government for their financial support to the local government like Lagawe. She said that it is timely because their fund for AICS is already deflating.
Gallangi reiterated that Lagawe plans to reserve the fund as the disbursement timeframe given to them is on the coming month of August and September. By Kisha Joy Coyam-an
