Cordillera Administrative Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation is now following a new set of guidelines in the service’s implementation.
This follows the release of Memorandum Circular No. 11, Series of 2019 or the Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
The said circular released by DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista on 10 May 2019 aims to improve the delivery the service to the Department’s clients. This enhancement is also consistent with Republic Act (RA) 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.
“The DSWD-CAR remains committed to its mandate to deliver efficient, effective and honest service to the vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families in the region. Through the AICS delivered by our Crisis Intervention Section, we hope that we can provide immediate interventions while observing set guidelines and protocols”, DSWD-CAR Regional Director Janet P. Armas said.
The AICS is the provision of integrated services to individuals or families in difficult situations assisting them on their recovery.
“The AICS is just a supplementary service- a stop gap mechanism which we provide so our clients may have access to their basic needs during emergency or difficult situations. The provision of the type or amount of assistance to be provided will be based on the assessment and recommendation of the Department’s social workers”, Director Armas added.
Aside from the assessment, the eligibility of clients will be established through interviews, home visits and/ or submission of necessary documents such as valid identification document and Barangay Certificate of Residency or Certificate of Indigency or Certificate of the Client is in Need of Assistance.
The AICS will also be directly implemented by the social workers of the Department. However, partnership with partner stakeholders such as hospitals, pharmacies, transport companies, and other service providers can be established by the Department for faster service delivery. Aside from this, the AICS will now be serving individuals who were killed or wounded during police or military operations, former rebels, and persons living with HIV.
Through the AICS, qualified individuals or families may avail of services such as Transportation, Medical, Burial, Educational, Food, and Cash Assistance. Aside from these, DSWD social workers may also provide psychosocial intervention and referral for other services.
Meanwhile, rate of assistance to clients of the AICS ranges from P 1,000.00 to P 150,000.00 depending on the assessment and type of assistance being provided. Transportation assistance covers the actual cost of ticket while medicines and laboratory procedures should not exceed P 10,000.00. Educational assistance can be provided to a maximum of three (3) children per family amounting to P 500.00 to P 1,000.00 for elementary pupils, P 1,000.00 to P 1,500.00 to high school students and P2,000.00 to P 5,000.00 for college students.
On the other hand, assistance amounting to P 10,000.00 and below are provided through outright cash. Higher amounts will be released through pay-outs. The DSWD CIS also issue guarantee letters to our service providers amounting up to P 150,000.00.
In the region, there are 4,964 beneficiaries who have been served from January to May 2019. They were provided with a total of P 25,115,933.00 worth of assistance.
Individuals who are interested to avail of the said service may visit DSWD-CAR at #40 North Drive, Baguio City or call (074) 661-04-30 or visit the nearest Social Welfare and Development Office in their area. By Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva
