Cordillera Administrative Region- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) here has allotted Php 95 M for individuals in crisis situation who are in need of financial aid for transportation, medical, burial, educational, and food assistance through the Expanded Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (E-AICS).
E-AICS is the enhanced AICS which aims to provide more immediate and responsive assistance to the Department’s clients in the provinces through the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU).
DSWD-CAR Regional Director Janet P. Armas said that the funds are downloaded to the Satellite CIUs in the provinces here. “Funds in the provinces are ready for the utilization of our clients. They do not need to go to our Regional Office in Baguio City. With this, our clients will be able to save time, effort, and money”, Director Armas added.
Under the E-AICs, type, kind, and amount of assistance to be provided to the beneficiaries are based on the assessment and recommendation of DSWD social workers and/or other authorized personnel, duly approved by the authorized official/s of the Department such as the Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Local Government Units.
Potential beneficiaries may avail of the following types of assistance including medical, burial, transportation and educational. However, a client can avail of the different types of assistance only once within three (3) months.
A maximum amount of Php 5,000.00 may be released immediately in cash to the beneficiary, duly approved by the head of the CIU in the Field Office or satellite CIU. Assistance amounting to more than Php 5,000.00 but not to exceed Php 25,000.00 is upon the approval of the Assistant Regional Director. And in extremely justifiable cases, assistance amounting to more than Php 25,000.00 but not exceeding Php 75,000.00 is subject to the approval of the Regional Director.
The DSWD is also working closely with service providers such as hospitals, other government agencies, academe, transport companies, funeral parlors, pharmacies, and other service providers to ensure that referred clients are efficiently and effectively assisted. DSWD will pay checks/ assistance vested for the client directly to the service provider.
Clients who opt to request for medical assistance need to submit clinical abstract or medical certificate with signature and license number of the attending physician which is issued within three (3) months, hospital bill, or prescription or laboratory requests. For burial assistance, clients should provide the funeral contract, registered death certificate and permit to transfer/ health permit for transfer of cadaver. Clients requesting for transportation assistance need to provide police blotter for victims of pick pockets, illegal recruitment and other similar circumstances. While clients requesting for educational assistance, should submit enrolment assessment form or certificate of enrolment or registration, and school ID of the beneficiary. These documents shall further be accompanied by a barangay certificate of residency or indigency, valid ID of the client and a referral letter, if applicable for the processing of the assistance.
Provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, and Mt. Province have been allocated with Php 14 M, while Baguio City has been allotted Php 13.5 M and Ifugao Province with Php 7M for the E-AICS.
As of 18 August 2014, 2,557 clients with assistance amounting to Php 16,871,991.26 have already been served by the CIU offices in the Region. Individuals who would like to avail of the assistance may call the Crisis Intervention Unit at (074) 446-59-61or may visit the satellite CIUs in the provinces or the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices in their respective municipalities.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, NFGV
