Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.________ 
Introduced by REP. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN and REP. REYNOLDS MICHAEL TAN 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The most seriously disadvantaged individuals and families throughout the 
archipelago are experiencing various predicaments brought about by several 
dysfunctional situations such as poor health conditions, natural and man-made 
calamities, and other crisis situations. The detrimental effects of these situations 
are even magnified by the continued resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
All taken together, the aforementioned circumstances result in poor living 
conditions affecting the vulnerable populations of the country. This further leads to 
their inability to meet even their basic needs.   
Given this dire situation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
was able to devise the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program that 
aims to uplift the situation of vulnerable individuals and families in the country by 
providing an efficient way to access and avail of basic social services: transportation 
assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, educational assistance, food 
assistance, cash assistance, psychosocial intervention, or referral to other services. This 
program is envisioned to be a viable means to uplift the status of the marginalized 
population of the country. 
Accordingly, this Bill seeks to institutionalize the Aid to Individuals in Crisis 
Situation (AICS) Program of the DSWD to transform it into a permanent national 
program. 
Foregoing considered, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought. 
REP. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN 
 REP. REYNOLDS MICHAEL T. TAN 
First District, Samar 
 Second District, Samar 
August 18, 2025
1:47 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No.________ 
Introduced by REP. STEPHEN JAMES T. TAN and REP. REYNOLDS MICHAEL TAN 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS 
SITUATION (AICS) PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE 
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 (AICS) Act”. 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared a policy of the State to provide 
immediate assistance to all seriously disadvantaged individuals who are experiencing 
various predicaments brought about by several dysfunctional situations such as poor 
health conditions, natural and man-made calamities, and other crisis situations. Priority 
shall be given to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors of Society. Adequate and 
sustainable assistance in the form of programs and services shall be given to individuals 
and families who are immediately in need thereof.  
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – The words, language, and expression found in this 
Ordinance shall be interpreted in accordance with their usual meaning and usage, in such 
a manner that would most accurately depict the legislative intent. As used in this Act, the 
following terms shall be defined as follows: 
a) 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) Burial Assistance – refers to assistance to defray funeral and related expenses;
c) Crisis Situation – refers to a condition whereby an individual or group of persons
are faced with a different and stressful situation resulting in the impairment of
his/her psychosocial functioning thereby needing a series of interventions to
prevent further exposures to vulnerabilities, exploitation, and abuse;
d) Educational Assistance – refers to the assistance given to eligible students to help
defray school expenses and/or the cost sending of sending students/children to
school.
e) Financial and/or Material Assistance – refers to the provision of monetary support
in the form of outright cash/or guarantee letter to service providers to augment the
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resources of the beneficiary, which include, but are not limited to, transportation 
assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, and educational assistance. 
f) Food Assistance – refers to the assistance to beneficiaries to be utilized for meals. 
g) Medical Assistance – refers to assistance to help shoulder hospitalization 
expenses, cost of medicines other medical treatment or procedures, or 
professional fees.  
h) Transportation Assistance – refers to the assistance for the purchase or payment 
of transport tickets and/or expenses to enable the beneficiaries to return to their 
home provinces either permanently or to seek further medical interventions in 
another place, or to attend to emergency concerns or critical situations of family 
members or other individuals in need.  
SECTION 4. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program. – The 
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program shall provide financial or material 
assistance to individuals or families whose normal functioning has been hampered due 
to difficult situations brought about by dysfunctional situations that may be caused by poor 
health conditions, natural and man-made calamities, and other crisis situations. 
SECTION 5. Types of Assistance. The AICS Program shall provide qualified 
beneficiaries with transportation assistance, medical assistance, burial assistance, 
educational assistance, food assistance, cash assistance, psychosocial intervention, or 
referral to other services.  
SECTION 6. Rates of Assistance. – The rate of financial assistance to be provided to 
the qualified beneficiaries herein shall be based on the assessment and recommendation 
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 
SECTION 6. Conditions for Eligibility Under the AICS Program. – The qualified 
beneficiaries of the AICS Program shall be identified following the parameters that shall 
be established by the DSWD. The DSWD shall also establish guidelines identifying the 
appropriate documentary requirements for each type of assistance granted under this 
AICS Program. Provided, that each beneficiary seeking assistance under this Act shall 
be subject to screening, verification, and assessment of the beneficiaries’ needs by social 
workers. 
SECTION 7. Department of Social Welfare and Development as the lead agency. – 
The DSWD shall serve as the lead agency for the central planning, coordinating, 
implementing, and monitoring of the Program.  
SECTION 8. Annual Report of the Program – There shall be an annual report as to the 
implementation of the program to be published by the DSWD every fiscal year. The report 
shall consist of the number of beneficiaries served, financial disclosures, and 
recommendations of the President, Congress, and concerned agencies relating to the 
further enhancement of the program.  
SECTION 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The Secretary of Social Welfare 
and Development in coordination with the appropriate Government department and 
agencies and with the full participation of all Local Government Units, shall promulgate 
the necessary implementing rules and regulations to ensure the efficient implementation 
of this Act.  
SECTION 10. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be 
included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment and 
thereafter.  


SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. – All laws, decrees, orders and rules, and regulations 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended 
accordingly.  
SECTION 12. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.  
Approved,