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Republic of the Philippines RECEIVED <.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, _3386

Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. 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 THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) is a social safety net
or a stop-gap mechanism under the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD) to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crisis,
such as illness or death of a family member, and other crisis situations.

The AICS is part of DSWD's menu under protective services for the poor,
marginalized and vulnerable/disadvantaged individuals, which has been
implemented by the DSWD for decades as part of its technical assistance and
resource augmentation support to local government units (LGUs) and other partners.

It is being implemented by the Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) of the DSWD, a
special unit operating as an action center to immediately respond to cases of
individuals and families in crisis situations. The CIU provides integrated services
such as immediate rescue and protection provision of direct financial and material
assistance, augmentation during disaster and referrals for immediate medical, legal,
psycho-social services.

The CIU also operates through the DSWD Social Welfare and Development
Teams in the different provincial clusters in the region which accepts target clienteles
categorized as either walk-in, rescued and referred clients such as individuals and
families with no adequate means to provide for medical, transportation, burial and
other immediate needs, abandoned, abused and exploited adults and children

Although the LGUs have been empowered under Republic Act No. 7160, also
known as the Local Government Code of 1991, to deliver basic social protection and
welfare services, the DSWD continuously implements social welfare and
development, social protection, and anti-poverty programs and projects such as the
AICS, which together with other programs and services is set to be transferred to the
LGUs in compliance with the Supreme Court's Mandanas Ruling that directs the
increase of National Tax Allotment share of LGUs vis-a-vis with the transfer or
devolution of essential services from the national government agencies to LGUs


In view of the importance of social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism to
provide immediate financial relief in times of emergencies to indigents, vulnerable,
and disadvantaged, this bill seeks to institutionalize the AICS program of the DSWD
to help remedy the country’s need for a social protection program that was
highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill also seeks the creation of a Crisis Intervention Program Management
Office (CIPMO) to ensure the efficient and responsive implementation of the AICS
program throughout the country.

Through this initiative, it is hoped that the indigents, vulnerable, and
disadvantaged will be given proper assistance in times of need.

/

Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. Tan
4th District, Quezon


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 33 86

~~ Introduced by: Hon. Keith Micah “Atty. Mike” D.L. 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 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 (AICS) Program Act’.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
value the dignity of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights.
Towards this end, it shall provide adequate and sustainable assistance and services,
to indigent, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals geared towards alleviating
poverty and an improved quality of life for every Filipino.

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

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 welfare;

b. Crisis situation refers to a condition whereby an individual or group of
persons are faced with 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

c. Financial and/or material assistance refers to the provision of monetary
support in the form of outright cash and/or guarantee letter, coupon, check or
voucher that has monetary value, which covers, but not limited to, assistance to
burial, transportation, medical, educational, other support services and allied
assistance or physical aid such as food, clothing, and general assistive devices;

SEC. 4. Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). - The Assistance
to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, a social safety net or a stop-gap
mechanism under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that
supports the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crisis such as



illness or death of a family member, and other crisis situations, is hereby
institutionalized

It shall serve as part of the protective services for the poor, marginalized and
vulnerable/disadvantaged individuals and assistance and resource augmentation
support to local government units (LGUs).

SEC. 5. Beneficiaries of the AICS Program. — Only qualified beneficiaries of
the AICS Program shall receive financial and/or material assistance based on the
assessment of the DSWD social workers in accordance with the parameters that
shall be established in the program guidelines by the DSWD.

SEC. 6. Type, Kind and Amount of Financial Assistance. - The type, kind and
amount of financial assistance to be provided to beneficiaries shall be based on the
assessment and recommendation of the social workers or authorized personnel, duly
approved by the authorized official or officials of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD).

Appropriate documentation as provided for in the DSWD AICS guidelines
shall support all disbursements of funds. Social Case Study Report is required for
those whose assistance is higher than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00)

SEC. 7. Creation of Crisis intervention Program Management Office (CIPMO).
— A Crisis Intervention Program Management Office (CIPMO) shall be created under
the DSWD to ensure the efficient and responsive implementation of the AICS
program.

The CIPMO shall be adequately staffed by social workers and support staff
The Secretary of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the Civil
Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
shall ensure the creation of appropriate plantila positions and staffing pattern and
appoint or assign such other personnel as may be necessary for its effective
operation.

The DSWD shall include in its budget, to be submitted to the DBM, the budget
for the personnel services requirement of the CIPMO. Such budgetary requirements
shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD, in coordination with the
Department of Health and other relevant agencies, shall promulgate the necessary
rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to implement this Act shall
be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into
law and thereafter.

SEC. 10. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees or issuances,
executive orders, letter of instructions, administrative orders, rules and regulations
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended,


repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,