The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead government agency in social protection, continues to give ‘ayuda’ or aid through its various programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and the Ayuda para sa mga Kapos and Kita Program (AKAP), Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Monday (October 7).

“As the government’s lead agency for social protection, our social workers, which we aptly call Angels in Red Vests, are always working to render assistance to the vulnerable, marginalized and those undergoing crisis. Our social workers are living by example the DSWD’s motto: Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The AICS program benefits families and individuals who are economically disadvantaged, vulnerable, or part of the informal sector who are facing crisis situations as determined by the assessment of social workers.

The AKAP provides financial aid to minimum wage earners falling under the low-income category, who are severely affected by rising inflation. Farmers and fisherfolk whose livelihoods have been affected by the El Nino and oil spill, respectively, have also benefitted from AKAP.

The DSWD chief said ‘ayuda’ or assistance in the form of family food packs (FFPs), which are prepositioned in warehouses across the regions, and Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) are immediately given to families and individuals affected by natural disasters such as typhoons and flooding.

“They are extended by the DSWD on a targeted and organized manner to identified and vetted victims of calamities to help them get back on their feet,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Secretary Gatchalian stressed that it is always better to have a surplus of ‘ayuda’ than a shortage of it “because if the latter happens, then the government is running the most alarming of all deficits, and that is the deficit of compassion.”

“There is no politics in the granting of aid. The only requirement is that it is truly needed by those in difficult circumstances,” the DSWD chief pointed out.#

Tagalog Version

Patuloy ang pamimigay ng DSWD ng ayuda sa mahihirap sa anyo ng AICS, AKAP

Inihayag ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, ang walang humpay na pagbibigay ng serbisyo at cash aid ng ahensya sa pamamagitan ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) at ng Ayuda para sa mga Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

“As the government’s lead agency for social protection, our social workers, which we aptly call Angels in Red Vests, are always working to render assistance to the vulnerable, marginalized and those undergoing crisis. Our social workers are living by example the DSWD’s motto: Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo,” ayon kay Secretary Gatchalian.

Ang AICS program ay nagbibigay ng benepisyo sa mga mahihirap na pamilya o indibidwal at nabibilang sa informal sector na humaharap sa krisis. Ang tulong na ibinibigay ay nakadepende sa assessment ng mga social workers.

Ang AKAP ay nagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal sa mga minimum wage earners o mga manggagawa na nasa low-income category at karaniwang apektado ng mga pagtaas ng bilihin o ng inflation. Kabilang na dito ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda na naapektuhan ng El Nino at oil spill.

Ayon sa DSWD chief ang ‘ayuda’ o assistance na ibinibigay ay maaaring nasa anyo ng family food packs (FFPs), na naka-preposition sa mga warehouses ng ahensya sa iba’t-ibang lugar sa bansa, at Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT). Ang mga nabanggit na tulong ay ipinamamahagi sa mga pamilya o indibidwal na nangangailangan partikular na ang mga naapektuhan ng kalamidad gaya ng bagyo at baha.

“They are extended by the DSWD on a targeted and organized manner to identified and vetted victims of calamities to help them get back on their feet,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Samantala, binigyang diin naman ni Secretary Gatchalian ang kahalagahan ng pagdamay sa kapwa, kung saan tiniyak nito na palagiang sapat at hindi magkukulang ang mga tulong at serbisyong ibinibigay ng ahensya sa mga mahihirap at nangangailangan.

“There is no politics in the granting of aid, the only requirement is that it is truly needed by those in difficult circumstances,” paliwanag pa ng DSWD chief.#