DSWD clarifies primary basis of AICS aid
DSWD CIP Director IV Edwin Morata (left) and Strategic Communications Special Assistant to the Secretary Raymond Robert Burgos speaking at the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on 12 November.
Photo Courtesy of DSWD
The actual circumstances and needs of individuals seeking assistance remain the primary basis for assessing applications under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, an official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) clarified on Thursday.
“What our social workers really look at is the person's story and the documents that establish the client's needs. This is how we assess clients when they come to our offices,” CIP Director Edwin Morata said during an agency-led forum.
Morata said that while the DSWD-CIP accepts referral letters from politicians, organizations, and other individuals, these are not mandatory requirements and do not guarantee faster processing or a higher amount of assistance.
“We do not require referral letters. We are not saying that they are prohibited, as there may be Good Samaritans who want to send referral letters. We accept them as a way of acknowledging that a client has been properly endorsed,” he said.
“But these are not requirements, and they will never affect the social worker's assessment or the amount of assistance granted based on the client's needs,” he added.
One ID policy
Morata stressed that applicants only need to present one valid government-issued identification card and are no longer required to submit a certificate of indigency.
He also reminded applicants that the one-valid-ID policy has long been in place and encouraged them to apply for a National ID, which the agency also accepts.
“To clarify, we no longer require a certificate of indigency. We removed this requirement a few years ago because the social worker assisting you can determine your level of indigency,” the CIP chief added.
The DSWD-CIP also assured applicants that it would accommodate clients through an adjusted schedule following the declaration of holidays in connection with the ASEAN Summit from November 16 to 18.
“Our offices will be closed on those days, but that does not mean our services will stop. Those who have online appointments scheduled for November 16, 17, and 18 will instead be accommodated on 7, 21, and 28 November” Morata said.