INTERIOR and Local Government (DILG) Secretary today urged all local government units (LGUs) to extend necessary support to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the distribution of educational financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos, Jr. said LGUs must provide manpower support to facilitate an orderly distribution of the financial assistance and provide fixed venues where the distribution of the AICS in the cities and municipalities may be conveniently conducted.
“In cases of cities and big municipalities, it is encouraged to have multiple distribution centers to avoid over-crowding of students and their parents,” he said.
Abalos issued the directive in response to the request of DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo for LGUs to help facilitate the distribution of the AICS educational cash aid after people came in droves to the DSWD Central and regional offices.
“We call on our LGUs to respond proactively to the appeal of DSWD Secretary Tulfo. Hindi naman tayo bago sa mga ganitong pamamahagi ng tulong pinansyal sa ating mga kababayan. Let us step up and extend all the help that we can provide for the success of the distribution of financial aid to our students,” he said.
Abalos said that according to the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the DILG and DSWD, DSWD must coordinate with the LGUs for the conduct of information dissemination on the guidelines, mechanics, and schedule for registration of beneficiaries and distribution of assistance.
“In this massive undertaking, we look to our LGUs to assist us to be able to send out the AICS to the students who need them the most. Malaking bagay po ito para sa ating mga kababayan kaya naman inaaasahan natin ang tulong ng mga pamahalaang lokal,” he said.
The DILG Chief, however, clarified that while LGUs will assist in the distribution of the financial assistance, it will be the DSWD personnel and social workers, not local government personnel or barangays, who will give out the monetary aid. “Mayroon po tayong tinatawag na paymasters ng DSWD na siyang mangangasiwa sa pamimigay ng assistance. Ang LGU po ay naroon upang umalalay.”
He said DSWD shall provide the DILG with the list of LGUs where the distribution will be conducted together with the date and time of the distribution.
Implemented by the DSWD, the AICS provides various protective services for vulnerable families, including education assistance to help defray the cost of tuition fees and school expenses. Under this program, elementary students from indigent families will each be provided with P1,000; high school students, P2,000: senior high school students, P3,000; and college students, P4,000.
Police support for AICS
Abalos also directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to provide police support during the implementation of the AICS to help ensure the orderly, safe and secure transport, delivery and distribution of funds.
He said that just like previous ‘ayuda’ distributions, the police would maintain order and ensure the safety of the people during the educational aid distribution. He added that minimum public health standards (MPHS) must also be implemented as much as possible as the country is still battling the COVID-19 pandemic and has tallied three cases of Monkeypox.
Abalos likewise encouraged LGUs to continue to implement their best practices in the distribution of financial assistance in terms of crowd management and mode of dissemination such as digital or online payouts.
He also reminded the beneficiaries to cooperate and adhere to the parameters set by the DILG and DSWD to ensure a more organized distribution of cash aid. “Hinihiling po natin sa ating mga kababayan na makiisa po at pairalain ang disiplina kapag sila ay kukuha ng kanilang educational assistance para organized po tayo.”
