Cordillera Administrative Region– The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here has provided around PhP 87.4 million worth of assistance to 14,873 clients through its Expanded Assistance to Individuals in Crises Situation (E-AICS).
The E-AICS is one of the social welfare and protection services of the DSWD which aims to address the immediate needs of an individual or family through the provision of assistance which may come in the form of a guarantee letter, family food packs or financial aid.
Through the Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), medical, financial, burial, education, food, and transportation assistance are given to individuals or families who are in difficult circumstances such as sudden loss of income, accident, natural disasters, among others.
In 2020, the Department was able to provide medical assistance to 8651 individuals and educational assistance to 4558 students. Moreover, there were 854 clients provided with financial assistance, 740 with burial assistance, 50 withtransportation assistance, and 20 with food assistance.
Out of these numbers, Baguio City records the highest number of clients served with 5670, followed by Benguet with 3188, Abra with 1619, Mountain Province with 1382, Kalinga with 840, Ifugao with 635 and other provinces outside CAR with 36.
“We would like to remind the public that under the E-AICS, the DSWD provides assistance based on the needs of the clients. From their respective local social welfare and development offices, clients coming to our office are assessed by our social workers and are provided with appropriate interventions based on the professional judgement and documents presented”, DSWD FO CAR OIC Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla shared.
“The E-AICS is not a dole-out program where we regularly provide assistance. This service aims to help individuals and families get through difficult situations they are currently experiencing. Tutulungan natin sila base sa kanilang pangangailangan upang malagpasan nila ang problema na kanilang kinakaharap”, Director Quintilla added.
