The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it has not imposed additional requirements on clients who are requesting aid under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said no additional requirements have been included for those who seek help under the agency’s various programs.
Gatchalian pointed out that the DSWD earlier issued a statement “clearly denying” allegations that the agency’s AICS program is being dragged in the ongoing people initiative’s Charter-Change signature campaign.
Gatchalian further said the DSWD “is not involved in the ongoing people’s initiative that pushes for the amendment of the 1987 Constitution.”
He said he met with the department’s regional directors on Friday to make sure that all field offices are following the guidelines on AICS and other DSWD social protection programs and that no additional requirements will be asked from the clients.
“We shall implement our programs in accordance with guidelines and laws,” Gatchalian told the officials.
Gatchalian reiterated the requirements to avail of the cash aid and other forms of assistance under the agency’s AICS program. These include the clients’ and authorized representatives’ valid government-issued identification cards and general in-take sheets from the DSWD.
Other documents may be needed for specific assistance such as medical abstract-certificate, laboratory requests, doctor’s prescriptions, death certificates, and funeral bills, among others.
Critics of the administration earlier claimed that under the signature campaign, the AICS program and other social protection programs are being used as incentives in exchange for registered voters’ signatures in the call for Charter amendments.