DSWD inks MOA with health providers, pharmacies to deliver help under AICS program

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) over the weekend recently inked a deal with its partner health institutions and pharmacies to strengthen their collaboration under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program.

The memorandum of agreement (MOA) – aimed at providing timely and efficient medical aid and other essential health services to beneficiaries from vulnerable sectors – was signed at the DSWD central office on Saturday.

In his remarks, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian underscored the crucial role of health service providers in expanding the reach of medical and social assistance under the AICS Program.

He also thanked the DSWD’s partner institutions for “opening their facilities, expanding their resources, and embracing the spirit of bayanihan to support communities in crisis.”

“To our valued service providers, thank you for partnering with us through the memorandum of agreement that you will be signing today, for opening your institutions, and committing to serve with us in ensuring that medical and social assistance remains accessible to those who need it most,” Gatchalian said.

The partner institutions included hospitals, pharmacies, diagnostic centers, therapy and learning centers, medical implant and device distributors, prosthesis providers, and dialysis centers.

The MOA established standard procedures for processing payments and strengthened mutual obligations to ensure efficient, transparent, and accessible services for underprivileged, vulnerable, and marginalized Filipinos facing medical crises.

The DSWD’s partner hospitals included in the MOA are: Christ the King Medical Center-Unihealth Las Piñas, Dr. Cabuco Hospital, Dr. Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Healthway Cancer Care Hospital, Metro Antipolo Hospital and Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, and San Jose del Monte–Muzon Medical Center.

The therapy and learning center partners are Bless Learning Resources and Sparks Intervention and Tutorials. Implant partner distributors are the Sinawal Medical Supplies and Trans-Medic Philippines while Equilife Medical Equipment, Supplies, and Services is the medical device partner distributor.

Mediwalk Corporation is the provider of prosthetics and related equipment, while Luzon Renal Care as the designated dialysis center partner.

Meanwhile, the partner pharmacies are the Armour-Med Distributors, Clear-Bridge Medical Philippines, and Detoxicare Philippines. The Premiere Medical and Cardiovascular Laboratory is the DSWD’s partner diagnostic center.

Gatchalian noted that more than eight million Filipinos received help under the DSWD’s AICS program for 2025, including more than 600,000 beneficiaries who received guarantee letters through strengthened partnerships with service providers.

“For countless Filipino families, AICS has served as a lifeline, bringing hope, relief, and dignity during their most challenging times. Araw-araw, libo-libong Pilipino ang nabibigyan ng pag-asa ng programang ito, at mas lalong dadami dahil sa inyo (Everyday, thousands of Filipinos are given hope through this program, and the numbers will continue to increase because of you),” Gatchalian added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News