Starting today, May 3, residents of San Jose Del Monte (SJDM) City, Bulacan and other nearby areas need not travel to the Central Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Batasan, Quezon City to avail of the services under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

This, after the DSWD opened a new AICS processing center at the Starmall Government Center in SJDM to accommodate clients coming from the city and other neighboring municipalities.

AICS serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism meant to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, natural and man-made disasters and other crisis situations.

AICS Clients may avail of medical, hospitalization, transportation, and burial assistance, among others.

The establishment of the satellite office was a joint undertaking of the DSWD and the city government of SJDM sealed through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)that coincided with the opening ceremony.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, joined by SJDM City Mayor Arthur Robes and assisted by DSWD Field Office III Director Jonathan Dirain, led the opening ceremony of the satellite center.

Also joining the activity were DSWD Undersecretary Monina Jose Romualdez, Assistant Secretary Uly Aguilar, and Vistareit Inc. General Manager Dino Francisco.

Mayor Robes thanked the DSWD for providing clients from the city and nearby areas with easier access in seeking assistance.

“Secretary, I will assure you na hindi mahihirapan ang inyong Departamento dito, lahat ng pwede naming maging support sa DSWD, susuportahan ng city government (I will assure you that DSWD will get all the support from the city government), the local chief executive said.

Secretary Gatchalian said that the DSWD equally supports the city government’s goal of assisting its constituents and of bringing the Department closer to the people.

“Alam namin na paghihingi kayo ng tulong sa DSWD, lumuluwas pa kayo papunta sa Central Office sa Batasan, magastos, malayo kaya naisip namin ni Mayor Art na ang pinakamadali ay maglagay na tayo dito sa San Jose” (We know that you had to commute to Central Office in Batasan when you need to request for assistance.  It is far and costly, that is why, Mayor Art and I thought that putting up a satellite office in San Jose is the best remedy), Secretary Gatchalian said.

The Secretary also expressed his gratitude to Mayor Robes for the city government’s assistance in providing supplies to the satellite office

The Secretary also thanked Vistareit, the Starmall Management, for giving free space for the satellite office.

Among the first clients of the newly-opened processing center was Geraldine Valmoria, a cancer patient and a resident of SJDM who expressed gratitude for the opening of the satellite office in the city.

She recalled that she had difficulties in going to DSWD in Batasan, Quezon City, having to leave her home at the crack of dawn.

“Kaming mga patient na may cancer, hirap na hirap kasi nagugutuman kami, nagche-chemo pa kami. Ngayong may malapit na office hindi na kami mahirapan,” (For cancer patients like us, it is very difficult because we get hungry as we are undergoing chemotherapy.  With the satellite office, it is now more convenient for us), Valmoria said.

Rolando Corbe, 45, from Barangay Sapang Palay, echoed the same feeling, finding it easier for him to seek assistance to buy medicines for his health concerns.

Responding to the call of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to bring government closer to the public, Secretary Gatchalian initiated the establishment of satellite offices for the AICS program in strategic areas.

This is to ensure that clients who are in most need will not have a hard time accessing DSWD programs and services.

On April 27, the DSWD also opened satellite offices in Monumento for clients coming from the CAMANAVA areas, and in Baclaran, Paranaque for the residents of Southern Metro Manila.

The DSWD will stay true to its core values and to innovate its systems and processes for the benefit of the sectors that it serves. #