The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is investigating reports that officials of Barangay Quintin Salas in Jaro, Iloilo City allegedly took portions of the cash assistance distributed to residents under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

“The Department strongly condemns this kind of act which directly deprives beneficiaries of the full assistance intended for them. Ang ayuda para sa mga nangangailangan ay dapat buo nilang makukuha at hindi pwedeng bawiin o bawasan,” DSWD spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Wednesday.

Dumlao emphasized that all cash assistance under the AICS must be received in full by qualified beneficiaries, without any deductions or conditions.

“We will immediately conduct an investigation to verify these reports and ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law,” Dumlao said.

Some beneficiaries alleged that certain barangay officials and tanods of Barangay Quintin Salas deducted P8,000 from the P10,000 cash aid given through the AICS program, leaving them with only P2,000 each.

News reports said the incident took place on Tuesday, November 11, during the DSWD’s cash payout activity for typhoon-affected families in Iloilo City.

Residents of Barangay Lanit in Jaro raised similar complaints, claiming that barangay personnel visited homes to collect portions of the AICS financial aid distributed by the DSWD.

Beneficiaries said they had no choice but to surrender part of their cash assistance when approached by barangay officials, even as they questioned where the collected funds would go.

The DSWD’s Field Office 6 (Western Visayas) reminded the public to remain vigilant against individuals or groups attempting to solicit or take any part of the AICS cash assistance.

The Field Office reiterated that only qualified individuals facing crises are entitled to receive the full amount of the aid. Any act of reducing the amount provided is patently illegal and strictly prohibited.

AICS beneficiaries who experience similar incidents are encouraged to report immediately to the nearest DSWD office or to the staff present in their area for referral and investigation.