DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – Over 1,200 individuals in the towns of San Fabian and Bayambang received much-needed financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 1 through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
The AICS program aims to support vulnerable individuals during challenging times by providing essential services such as educational assistance, food, transportation, medical support, burial services, and financial aid.
Each beneficiary received P2,000, totaling P2.4 million in financial assistance during the distribution on Thursday, October 10.
The beneficiaries, including persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens, were carefully selected by their respective Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices.
The distribution of assistance to the beneficiaries was funded by Senator Francis Tolentino and facilitated by the DSWD Field Office I.
Senator Tolentino said in his message delivered by his son, Patrick Tolentino, “In the last four years, sobrang hirap ng buhay ng Pilipino dulot ng pandemic, inflation, at kalamidad kaya sa munting naibigay na tulong pinansyal ay gamitin sa pangunahing pangangailangan upang makatulong sa inyo at para sa inyong pamilya at huwag pong gamitin sa mga bisyo at sugal.”
(Over the past four years, Filipinos have struggled due to the pandemic, inflation, and natural disasters. Aid received should be used for basic needs to support you and your family, not for vices or gambling.)
Estrella Villegas, a beneficiary with a physical disability due to a broken bone in her foot, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Maraming salamat sa tulong na aming natanggap at ito ay malaking tulong na naibigay sa amin na walang income at PWD, ito ay magamit namin sa pambili ng gamot at vitamins para sa calcium.
(I am truly grateful for the assistance we received. This support is invaluable for us, especially since we have no income and are PWDs. We will use this aid to purchase essential medicine and vitamins for my calcium needs.)
Villegas expressed her hope to implement a project for PWDs in the barangay that provides them with a sustainable livelihood, thereby adding to their means of support and enabling them to become less dependent on government assistance.
Meanwhile, the DSWD urges beneficiaries to reach out to their nearest field or satellite offices in the area to take advantage of the services available under the AICS program.
Clients seeking assistance from AICS must meet the eligibility criteria established by the DSWD.
They need to be in a crisis situation, as outlined in the guidelines, which encompass natural disasters, armed conflicts, and personal emergencies.
Additionally, clients are required to provide accurate information and submit the necessary documentation, enabling the DSWD to evaluate their needs and deliver the appropriate support. (AMB/RPM/PIA Pangasinan)
