Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House sittno._1864

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE CONEJOS PANOTES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The granting of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has been a part of the
Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) protective services program for the poor,
marginalized and vulnerable or disadvantaged individuals as part of its technical assistance and resource
augmentation support to local government units and other partners. In the few decades of the existence
of the program, it has already benefited hundreds of thousands of poor people, especially in the far-flung,
areas.

As the centrepiece of the Protective Service Program, the DSWD extends financial and/or material
assistance by providing monetary support in the form of outright cash and/or guarantee letter to service
providers to augment the resources of the target beneficiaries, which include, but not limited to,
transportation assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, and educational assistance.

The type and amount of financial assistance provided to target beneficiaries are based on the
assessment and recommendation of the social workers and/authorized personnel, duly approved by the
authorized official or officials of the DSWD.

Due to the immense success of the Program in alleviating the plight of the vulnerable and
disadvantaged individuals, there is a need to make this permanent that whoever will govern the country,
the granting of AICS will continue so that the marginalized individuals and families needing immediate
intervention may have access to basic services from the government.

This bill, the only bill with only one author, my late mother Congresswoman Toots Panotes, during
the Eighteenth Congress, was found to be meritorious as this was approved with amendments by the
Committee on Social Services but the Committee Report did not reach the plenary. Again, during the
Nineteenth Congress, the same bill was approved on Third Reading but due to lack of material time it was
not transmitted to the Senate.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate approval of this important piece of legislation is
earnestly sought.

ROSEMARII 1EJOS PANOTES
Representative
Second District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 1864

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE CONEJOS PANOTES

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANTING OF ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATION
(AICS), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis
Situation Act.”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to value the
dignity of every human being and guarantee full respect for human rights. Toward this end, the
disadvantaged individuals, families and communities must be liberated from the quagmire of
poverty by providing assistance, projects, programs and services geared towards alleviating
poverty and an improved quality of life for every Filipino, especially the marginalized sector.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a. Target Beneficiaries refer to individuals and/or families who are indigent,
vulnerable, disadvantaged or are otherwise in crisis situation based on the
assessment of the social workers;

b. National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) refers
to the data and an information management system that identifies who and
where are the poor in the Philippines;

c. Crisis Situation refers to a condition whereby an individual or group of persons
are faced a different and stressful situation resulting to the impairment of
his/her psychosocial functioning thereby needing series of interventions to
prevent further exposure to vulnerabilities, exploitation and abuse; and

d. Financial and/or Material Assistance refers to the provision of monetary
support in the form of outright cash and/or guarantee letter to service
providers to augment the resources of the client, which include, but not
limited to, transportation assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, and
educational assistance.

SEC. 4. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). — Each qualified target
beneficiary shall receive financial and/or material assistance equivalent to at least Five
thousand pesos (P5,000.00)and, in extremely justifiable cases, the amount of assistance
shall not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (100,000.00).

SEC. 5. Type, Kind and Amount of Financial Assistance. - The type, kind and
amount of financial assistance to be provided to target beneficiaries shall be based on the
assessment and recommendation of the social workers and/or authorized personnel, duly
approved by the authorized official or officials of the DSWD.


Appropriate documentation shall support all disbursements of funds based on the
Social Case Study Report for each target beneficiary.

SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 7. Appropriations. The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be
charged against the appropriations of the DSWD of the year following its enactment into
law and thereafter.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders or issuances,
administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are

hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Approved,