During the Kapihan sa Baopng Pilipinas, DSWD-10 Regional Director Ramel Jamen provided an update on DSWD-10’s programs and services. (Photo: DCC/PIA-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 Director Ramel Jamen shared that more than 490,000 individuals have been served by their office under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program from January 2023 up to May 2024.
“Let me emphasize nga duha ka modality ang paghatag sa AICS. Onsite, meaning dinhi sa regional office, dinha sa ubos. Ug offsite, kining kami ug muadto sa local government kung asa tung payout areas. Kung i-total nato, kining on-site, 124,532 ug kining offsite,” the director said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas.
(Let me emphasize that there are two modalities of releasing the AICS. There is an onsite payout, which is led by the local government.)
For the onsite payouts in the regional office and satellite offices in the region, the amount of assistance has totaled P1.6 billion. On the other hand, the department provided a total of P1.3 billion in assistance for off-site payouts in various areas, both within and outside the region. The services involved financial, medical, and burial assistance.
DSWD-10 has recently held offsite activities in Cagayan de Oro City, including the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolks (PAFF). This activity provided assistance to 17,885 beneficiaries, totaling P178,850. DSWD also served over 2,500 beneficiaries who made the most of the arrival of the Lab for All caravan in El Salvador City, providing assistance to 2,259 residents of El Salvador City, Alubijid, and Opol municipalities.
In addition to offsite activities, DSWD also welcomed 11,483 beneficiaries for the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City, with assistance amounting to P14.5 million.
One of the AICS beneficiaries, Juna Balosa, shared that the assistance really helped her to sustain their daily needs, especially since her husband recently lost his job. She is a mother of four, and she has always supported her siblings. Currently, she works as a janitress in the barangay, but the rising prices of goods and services have made it difficult for her to manage her responsibilities simultaneously. Nevertheless, the DSWD has been instrumental in helping her overcome these challenges. She is even determined to continue winning.
“Akoang anak nga pinaka-magulangan, senior high na. So, hapit na gyud mag-college,” Balosa said, assuring that she will do her best to nurture her children through education.
Furthermore, DSWD Regional Director Jamen stated that the implementation of “Closer AICS,” a client-based localized online service, has eliminated the hassle and long queues associated with AICS processing assistance, leading to excellent results. It is a digitalization project that aims to provide ease and ensure the most efficient and effective way of delivering AICS closer to the citizens.
Currently, the system is already available through collaboration with partner hospitals and the local government units of Balingasag, El Salvador City, and Manolo Fortich. (IJBD/PIA-10)
