More than 500k individuals in crisis received aid from Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, or AICS, one of the social welfare services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that provides financial assistance to support individuals and families in crisis.

The program extends various types of assistance, like medical, burial, educational, transportation, food, and material, through cash, family food packs, or a guarantee letter.

DSWD 7 reported its AICS program served 500,190 individuals in the Central Visayas in 2023.

DSWD 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero mentioned that 9,205 individuals comprise referrals from the Malasakit Centers in public hospitals.

She said other clients who availed of the assistance were walk-ins to the Crisis Intervention Section (CIS) of DSWD 7 in Cebu City, SWAD offices of the agency in Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, and satellite offices located in the provinces.

The agency also reported that AICS had 1,048 offsite payouts across the region to accommodate directly the individuals referred by LGUs.

In 2023, DSWD 7 released more than P2.4 billion of AICS, providing aid to those in crisis. ###

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