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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                    House Bill No. 846 
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Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Section 5, Article II of the 1987 Constitution declares that “The maintenance of peace 
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and order, the protection of life, liberty, and property, and the promotion of the general 
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welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the blessings of democracy.” 
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Furthermore, Section 9 of the same Article mandates the State to “promote a just and 
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dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and 
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free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, 
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promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for 
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all.” 
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In line with these constitutional directives, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis 
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Situation (AICS) program has served as a critical safety net, helping millions of 
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marginalized Filipinos avoid deeper poverty when faced with emergencies such as 
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illness, accidents, or other crises. The Department of Social Welfare and Development 
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(DSWD) reported reaching over 1.2 million beneficiaries in 2020 alone, underscoring 
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the program’s necessity. 
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However, the current implementation of AICS, governed largely by internal 
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administrative guidelines rather than a clear statutory mandate, has created 
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vulnerabilities to misuse, politicization, and inefficiencies. Critics and stakeholders alike 
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have pointed to instances where assistance is distributed as a form of political payola, 
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particularly during election periods, undermining the program’s integrity and the 
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people’s trust in government. 
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To address these critical gaps, this bill institutionalizes AICS as a permanent, statutory 
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function of the DSWD and introduces robust safeguards to prevent abuse, promote 
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transparency, and ensure accountability. Among its salient features: 
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1.
Direct-to-Provider Disbursement — Financial assistance shall be disbursed
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directly to service providers through guarantee letters or digital payments,
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minimizing cash handling and the risk of funds being used for unintended
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purposes.
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July 1, 2025
2:20 pm


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Prohibition of Election-Period Distribution — To prevent the program from being 
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used as a tool for electoral patronage, distribution of assistance within 120 days 
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prior to any election is expressly prohibited, aligning with the Omnibus Election 
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Code and relevant Commission on Elections (COMELEC) regulations. 
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3.
Objective and Transparent Beneficiary Assessment — Assistance shall be based
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on a standardized, verifiable scoring system developed by the DSWD and
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grounded in documented need, ensuring that help reaches those who truly
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require it, not those favored by local political figures.
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4.
Beneficiary Compliance Obligations — To promote empowerment over
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dependency, able-bodied beneficiaries are required to attend financial literacy or
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livelihood training, or participate in community service, reinforcing their
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responsibility and fostering self-reliance.
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Oversight and Accountability Measures — The bill mandates annual publication
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of aggregated beneficiary data, random audits by the Commission on Audit, and
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the integration of AICS records with the National Household Targeting System
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for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). Furthermore, it expressly bars local officials,
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members of Congress, or any political figures from influencing or selecting
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individual beneficiaries, thereby insulating the program from patronage politics.
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Legal and Fiscal Sustainability — By institutionalizing AICS through this Act, the
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program’s funding and implementation will enjoy stability beyond changes in
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political leadership or administrative priorities, ensuring that assistance to the
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most vulnerable Filipinos continues without disruption.
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Through these reforms, this measure seeks not only to protect the integrity of public 
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funds but also to restore the dignity of those in need by ensuring that assistance is 
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provided fairly, objectively, and free from political influence. By enshrining 
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transparency, accountability, and beneficiary participation at the core of AICS, this bill 
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transforms the program from a transactional form of relief to a rights-based, sustainable 
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social protection mechanism. 
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On behalf of the Filipino people, especially the most marginalized sectors of society, the 
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immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
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REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
First Regular Session 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
                    House Bill No. 846 
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Introduced by REP. JESUS MANUEL “BONG” C. SUNTAY 
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AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANTING OF ASSISTANCE TO 
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INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS SITUATION (AICS), PROVIDING SAFEGUARDS 
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AGAINST ABUSE, IMPOSING COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS FOR 
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BENEFICIARIES, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
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Philippines in Congress assembled: 
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Section 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Assistance To Individuals In 
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Crisis Situation Act.” 
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to value 
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the dignity of every human being and guarantee full respect for human rights. Towards 
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this end, disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities must be liberated from 
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the quagmire of poverty by providing assistance, projects, programs, and services geared 
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towards alleviating poverty and improving the quality of life for every Filipino, while 
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ensuring transparency and accountability in public spending. 
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Section 3. Definition of Terms. 
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a) Target Beneficiaries — Individuals who are in a crisis situation based on assessment
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by licensed social workers using an objective, standardized scoring system developed by
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the DSWD.
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b) National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) — An
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information management system that identifies who and where the poor are in the
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country.
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c) Crisis Situation — A condition whereby individuals are faced with different and
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stressful circumstances resulting in the impairment of their psychosocial functioning,
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thereby needing a series of interventions to prevent further exposure to vulnerabilities,
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exploitation, and abuse.
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d) Financial Assistance — Provision of monetary support in the form of direct payments 
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or guarantee letters to service providers, to augment the resources of the client for 
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medical, transportation, burial, educational, or other justifiable needs. 
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Section 4. Assistance To Individuals In Crisis Situation (AICS). — Each qualified target 
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beneficiary shall receive financial assistance equivalent to at least Five Thousand Pesos 
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(P5,000.00) and, in extremely justifiable cases, the amount of assistance shall not 
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exceed One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00). 
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Financial assistance shall be disbursed directly to service providers through guarantee 
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letters or digital payment platforms whenever practicable to minimize opportunities for 
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misuse and patronage. 
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AICS assistance shall not be distributed in cash during or within one hundred twenty 
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(120) days before any national or local election, consistent with the Omnibus Election
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Code and relevant COMELEC regulations.
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Section 5. Type, Kind, and Amount of Financial Assistance. — The type, kind, and 
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amount of financial assistance shall be determined based on the assessment and 
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recommendation of licensed social workers, using a standardized and objective scoring 
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system anchored on verifiable documentation of need, and duly approved by authorized 
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officials of the DSWD. 
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A database of beneficiaries shall be maintained, integrated with the NHTS-PR, and 
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updated regularly to detect and prevent duplicate or ineligible claims. 
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Section 5-A. Beneficiary Obligations and Compliance. 
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a) Qualified beneficiaries, except those who are permanently disabled or incapacitated,
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shall undertake any of the following as a condition for receiving assistance:
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1. Attendance in a DSWD-approved financial literacy, livelihood, or skills training
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session; or
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2. Participation in community service or local government-identified volunteer
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activities for at least two (2) days.
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b) Beneficiaries shall sign a written agreement outlining their obligations, including
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truthful disclosure of household circumstances. Willful misrepresentation or fraud shall
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result in disqualification from receiving AICS benefits for a period of one (1) year,
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subject to appeal and reassessment by the DSWD.
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c) Failure to comply with agreed obligations without justifiable cause shall likewise
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result in suspension of assistance for one (1) year.
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Section 6. Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability. 
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a) The DSWD shall publish an annual report containing aggregated data on the number 
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of beneficiaries served, total funds disbursed, regional distribution, and beneficiary 
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compliance rates. Personally identifiable information shall be excluded but sufficient 
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details must be provided to ensure transparency. 
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b) Disbursement of AICS funds shall be subject to random annual audits by the 
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Commission on Audit (COA). The COA shall publish audit findings and recommend 
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corrective measures. 
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c) Local government units, members of Congress, or any political official shall not have 
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discretion or authority in selecting or endorsing individual beneficiaries, to safeguard 
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against the use of the program as a tool for patronage. 
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Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months of the 
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effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall promulgate the necessary rules 
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and regulations for its implementation. 
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Section 8. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this 
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Act shall be charged against the appropriations of the DSWD for the fiscal year following 
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its enactment into law and thereafter included in the General Appropriations Act. 
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Section 9. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in full force 
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and effect. 
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Section 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules, 
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and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
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modified accordingly. 
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Section 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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