THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to temporarily suspend the issuance of Guarantee Letters (GLs) under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program in December to give way to the annual liquidation and payment of previously released obligations.
Social Welfare Assistant Secretary and spokeswoman Irene Dumlao, during the DSWD’s weekly Media Forum in Quezon City, said the last day of issuance of the GLs for this year will be on December 13.
Dumlao said offsite AICS payout would also be temporarily suspended during the period.
The DSWD usually suspends the issuance of GLs towards the end of every year and devotes the first quarter of the following year to the completion of the payments where the GLs had been used.
Dumlao said the suspension of the issuance of GLs will not impact the provision of AICS assistance to clients in crisis as well as for cash assistance amounting to P10,000 or less.
She said the payout would be held in DSWD offices.
“The DSWD will still assist the AICS clients pero cash muna worth P10,000 and below ang maiibigay natin. Next year, once we have settled all obligation requests and disbursement vouchers, we could already resume the issuance of the GL (The DSWD will still assist the AICS clients but only for cash worth P10,000 and below. Next year, once we have settled all obligation requests and disbursement vouchers, we could resume with the issuance of the GL),” she said.
In 2023, the DSWD provided cash aid under ACS to 6.5 million Filipinos, or about four times the agency’s annual target of 1.6 million beneficiaries.
AICS cash aid may be used to purchase medicine, for burial assistance, and for educational assistance, among others.
AICS is also given to those affected by the typhoons and other calamities.
