Senator Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday clarified that politicians will not be allowed to participate in the distribution of government cash aid under the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The senator made the statement during the bicameral conference on the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, responding to concerns raised by lawmakers about the misuse of government aid, particularly the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), for political purposes.

“Ang akala po kasi, we will continue the old practice na nakikita si politiko, na yung politiko mismo ang nagbibigay. Dito po sa special provision, dapat wala po ‘yung politiko doon. We can only ask the DSWD and direct them kung saan yung calamity-stricken area. The DSWD who chooses the beneficiaries (People thought we would continue the old practice where politicians are seen giving aid themselves. In this special provision, politicians should not be involved. We can only instruct the DSWD on which calamity-stricken areas to prioritize. The DSWD chooses the beneficiaries),” Tulfo said during the bicameral meeting.

Tulfo cited the policy he implemented during his tenure as DSWD chief, which continues under Secretary Rex Gatchalian. He emphasized that it will be the agency’s social workers who will finalize the list of ayuda recipients.

“I believe under Secretary Rex's watch, yung DSWD mismo ang pupunta. They go to the ground. They have people on the ground and they list down. Hindi po yung galing sa politiko na mismo. That was also the practice during my time dito po sa pamimigay ng AICS (I believe under Secretary Rex, the DSWD themselves go to the field. They have staff on the ground who make the lists. It’s not coming from the politicians themselves. That was also the practice during my time in distributing AICS),” he explained.

With this clarification, Tulfo also advocated for a P34-billion increase in the AICS program for 2026, stressing the importance of being prepared for emergencies that require immediate assistance for affected Filipinos.

The bicameral conference committee eventually approved a total of P66.528 billion funding for the AICS program in the next year.

“AICS is needed badly. ‘Pag tinamaan po yung isang area, at maghihintay ka pa ng QRF (Quick Response Fund), aabutin po ng dalawa, tatlong linggo bago ma-release. Whereas, kung nandiyan na mismo yung AICS, madali na lang pong ma-release po ito ng department doon sa mga beneficiaries (AICS is urgently needed. When an area is hit, if you wait for the Quick Response Fund, it could take two to three weeks before it’s released. But if the AICS is already there, the department can easily release it to the beneficiaries),” Tulfo added.