The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) released PHP822.388 million to 237,052 clients in the region under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program from January to October this year, data showed on Thursday, Oct. 23.
“Through AICS, we continue to provide timely aid to individuals and families in need of medical, food, education, transportation, burial, and cash relief assistance,” the DSWD-NIR said in a statement.
Negros Occidental received the bulk of AICS, totaling PHP418.209 million for 142,136 clients as of Oct. 1.
For medical assistance, 3,208 clients were given PHP84.928 million; food assistance – 138,738 clients, PHP330.962 million; funeral assistance – 173 clients, PHP2.222 million; cash relief – 16 clients, PHP86,000; and transportation assistance – one beneficiary, PHP10,000.
Negros Oriental obtained PHP351.493 million for 83,637 beneficiaries.
These include medical assistance for 5,092 clients at PHP58.7 million; food – 9,585 clients, PHP40.207 million; funeral – 1,638 clients, PHP933,500; cash relief – 67,321 clients, PHP251.641 million; and educational assistance – one beneficiary, PHP10,000.
As of Oct. 10, Siquijor was given PHP52.648 million for 11,279 clients.
Medical assistance was extended to 3,792 clients at PHP18.138 million; food – 1,233 clients, PHP5.039 million; funeral – 342 clients, PHP6.764 million; cash relief – 5,911 clients, PHP22.733 million; and educational – one beneficiary, PHP10,000.
Medical assistance covers hospitalization expenses, medicines, and other medical treatment or procedures for any illness or ailment.
Funeral assistance covers funeral and other related expenses, including but not limited to expenses in bringing the remains of the deceased to his or her residence/hometown, interment, cremation, and/or burial site in accordance with existing customary practices of the family.
Transportation assistance is intended for the purchase or payment of transport whether air, sea, and land tickets and/or expenses for travels of beneficiary/client, within the Philippines, for purposes not limited to return to home provinces permanently, or seek medical intervention/s in another place, or attendance to emergency concerns such as death or care of sick loved ones, rescue of abused relatives, or events of disaster/calamity that require immediate presence of the beneficiary/client.
Educational assistance is given to students-in-crisis, to help defray school expenses and/or cost of sending students/children to school such as school fees, school supplies, school projects, allowances, and other related expenses.
Food assistance is provided to clients to meet the need for food and other basic needs for sustenance, wherein the assistance may be distributed/provided through outright cash.
Cash assistance for other support services is a form of outright cash provided to individuals and families in crisis or in extremely difficult circumstances in which the need is not covered under any of the other services of the AICS program.*PNA