The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas said it has released a total of P2.3 billion in Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) last year.
These included P735.6 million in medical assistance, burial, P156.9 million; transportation assistance, P290,500; food aid, P411.6 million; cash assistance, P894.3 million; and educational support, P112.6 million.
Clients served reached 482,593, the DSWD said. This consisted of 78,844 individuals given medical aid; cash assistance, 232,829 individuals; burial, 17,405; food, 133,252; educational, 20,209; and transportation assistance, 54.
Atty. Carmelo Nochete, DSWD6 director, said they currently operate their action center and provide guarantee letters for those in need of medical and burial assistance, adding that those needing cash assistance undergo assessment and are scheduled for payout, he added.
“Rest assured that our AICS teams, and the Social Welfare and Development Actions (SWAD) teams in the provinces are ensuring client-friendly services for the people of Western Visayas,” Nochete said.
Beverly Salazar, head of the Crisis Intervention Section, said the DSWD exceeded the number of target clients served in 2023.
“This is due to the proactive provision of social assistance to victims of abuse, trafficking, disasters, displaced workers, and overseas Filipino workers from Israel and their families, that reached 232,829,” Salazar said in a press release Jan. 29.
She added that in order to help mitigate hunger, food assistance is also provided to clients in Malasakit Centers. “The provision of medical assistance also helps augment the hospital bills, chemo sessions of cancer patients, and dialysis of kidney patients,” she said.
Nochete, meanwhile, commended the DSWD staff, who brave disasters and calamities as well as emergencies to help the Ilonggos. This achievement is a product of hard work of our staff.” ||
