Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR THE 
ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATION PROGRAM 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of 
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which began in 2008, is one of the most 
successful social safety net programs provided by the national government through local 
government units and other partners in the form of technical assistance and resource 
augmentation. It is intended to assist beneficiaries in recovering from crisis situations 
and trying to return to a normal life. Over the years, the program has used a combination 
of psychosocial interventions, direct monetary assistance, and referrals to other services 
provided by other national government agencies to prevent countless individuals, 
families, and even entire communities from sinking further into poverty. 
Executive Order 137 included the AICS program as an integral component of its 
institutionalized Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence 
Program in the year 2021. In the same year, however, Executive Order 138 was issued 
in response to the Supreme Court's Mandanas Ruling1. Accordingly, all basic services 
and facilities, as outlined in Section 17 of the Local Government Code, were to be 
transferred to local government units in order to achieve full devolution by 2024. 
Given that the National Tax Allocation is expected to be reduced and that the majority 
of local governments in provinces are in poor financial shape, the future of the AICS 
Program, the only refuge of poor and indigent Filipinos in times of calamities, medical 
1 G.R. No. 199802, 3 July 2018 
December 5, 2022
12:29 pm
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emergencies, and other crisis situations, hangs in the balance. 
In order to allay the fears that its devolution would eventually lead to its dissolution, 
ineffectual implementation, or some other barrier that would make it difficult or 
impossible to access in times of crisis, the immediate approval of this 
bill institutionalizing the AICS program is earnestly sought. 
CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
Representative, Second District of Southern Leyte 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____________ 
Introduced by 
HON. CHRISTOPHERSON “COCO” M. YAP 
AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING AND ALLOCATING FUNDS FOR THE 
ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATION PROGRAM 
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 
1 
Crisis Situation (AICS) Program Act". 
2 
SEC.  2. 
Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
3 
value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for 
4 
human rights. Towards this end, it shall provide adequate and sustainable 
5 
assistance and services to indigent, vulnerable, and disadvantaged 
6 
individuals geared towards alleviating poverty and an improved quality of 
7 
life for every Filipino. 
8 
SEC.  3. 
Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall 
9 
mean: 
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(a) Beneficiaries refer to individuals and/or families who are indigent,
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vulnerable, disadvantaged or are otherwise in crisis situation based
12 
on the assessment of social workers;
13 
(b) Burial Assistance refers to assistance to defray the cost of funeral,
14 
burial, and other related expenses;
15 
(c) Crisis situation refers to a condition whereby an individual or
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group of persons are faced with a different and stressful situation
17 
resulting to the impairment of his/her psychosocial functioning
18 
thereby needing series of interventions to prevent further exposure
19 
to vulnerabilities, exploitation and abuse;
20 
(d) Educational Assistance refers to the assistance given to eligible
21 
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students to defray tuition, matriculation, and other school expenses 
22 
or cost of sending students of children to school. 
23 
(e) Food Assistance refer to the assistance given to eligible beneficiaries 
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to defray the cost of meals; 
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(f) Medical Assistance refers to assistance to defray expenses for 
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hospitalization, medical treatment and/or procedures, professional 
27 
fees, and medication. 
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(g) Social Workers refers to the social workers of the Department of 
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Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 
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(h) Transportation Assistance refers to the assistance to defray the 
31 
necessary costs to enable beneficiaries to return to their home 
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provinces permanently, enable medical intervention in another 
33 
place, or to attend to emergency concerns or critical situations of 
34 
family members or other individual in need. 
35 
SEC.  4. 
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). — The Assistance to 
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Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, shall provide support 
37 
services to beneficiaries in crisis situation through direct financial and /or 
38 
material assistance. 
39 
Assistance under this program shall be granted in the form of 
40 
transportation, medical, burial, educational, food, and cash assistance as 
41 
well as in the form of psychosocial interventions and referral to other 
42 
appropriate services subject to screening, verification, and assessment by 
43 
social workers on the needs of beneficiaries. 
44 
SEC.  5. 
Role of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. — The 
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DSWD shall serve as the central planning, coordinating, implementing, 
46 
and monitoring body of the Program.  
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In the implementation of this Act, the DSWD shall: 
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(a) Determine the conditions for eligibility, frequency of availment, 
49 
and 
the 
required 
supporting 
documents 
necessary 
for 
50 
disbursement; 
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(b) Screen, verify, and assess the situation of the beneficiaries and 
52 
identify the appropriate intervention needed for the situation; 
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(c) Provide and disburse to the beneficiaries the assistance appropriate 
54 
for their situation; 
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(d) Coordinate with other government agencies and the private sector 
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to ensure full implementation of this Act; 
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(e) Submit an annual report to Congress on all aspects of the 
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operations of the programs, financial status, and other relevant 
59 
data; and 
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(f) Perform such other functions as may be necessary or incidental to 
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the proper implementation of this Act. 
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SEC.  6. 
Type, Kind and Amount of Financial Assistance. — The type, kind and 
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amount of financial assistance to be provided to beneficiaries shall be 
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based on the assessment and recommendation of the social workers or 
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authorized personnel, duly approved by the authorized official or officials 
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of the DSWD; Provided, that the amount of assistance shall not be less 
67 
than Two thousand pesos (PhP 2,000.00); Provided further, that a Social 
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Case Study Report shall be required for those whose assistance is higher 
69 
than Ten thousand pesos (PhP10,000.00). 
70 
SEC.  7. 
Creation of Crisis Intervention Program Management Office (CIPMO). 
71 
— A Crisis Intervention Program Management Office (CIPMO) shall be 
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created under the DSWD to ensure the efficient and responsive 
73 
implementation of the AICS program. 
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The CIPMO shall be adequately staffed by social workers and support 
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staff. The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination 
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with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget 
77 
and Management (DBM), shall ensure the creation of appropriate 
78 
plantilla positions and staffing pattern and appoint or assign such other 
79 
personnel as may be necessary for its effective operation. 
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The DSWD shall include in its budget, to be submitted to the DBM, the 
81 
budget for the personnel services requirement of the CIPMO. Such 
82 


budgetary requirements shall be included in the General Appropriations 
83 
Act. 
84 
SEC.  8. 
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. — Upon the effectivity of this 
85 
Act, a Congressional Oversight Committee, is hereby constituted. The 
86 
Committee shall set the overall framework for the review of this Act’s 
87 
implementation and determination and implementation of remedial 
88 
legislative measures necessary to correct its inherent weaknesses. 
89 
SEC.  9. 
framework to review the implementation of this Act. It shall likewise 
90 
determine inherent weaknesses in the law and recommend necessary 
91 
remedial legislation or executive measures. 
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The Oversight Committee shall be composed of six (6) members with the 
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chairpersons of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation of the House of 
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Representatives, and the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural 
95 
Development of the Senate as Co-Chairpersons; and four (4) other 
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members from each House, to be designated by the Speaker of the House 
97 
of Representatives, and the Senate President, respectively. 
98 
For purposes of determining remedial legislation, the Oversight 
99 
Committee shall, within six (6) years after the effectivity of this Act, 
100 
conduct a review which shall include a systematic evaluation of the impact 
101 
of this Act, the accomplishments of the program, and the performance of 
102 
its implementing agency. 
103 
SEC.  10. 
Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within one (1) month from the 
104 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in coordination with 
105 
the Department of Health and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate 
106 
the necessary rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
107 
SEC.  11. 
Appropriations. — The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be 
108 
included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its 
109 
enactment into law and thereafter. 
110 
SEC.  12. 
Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees or issuances, executive 
111 


orders, letter of instructions, administrative orders, rules and regulations 
112 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
113 
amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
114 
SEC.  13. 
Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
115 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
116 
circulation. 
117 
Approved, 
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