DSWD to suspend issuance of AICS guarantee letters for December 2025

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will suspend the issuance of guarantee letters for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) from December 1 until the end of 2025.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the suspension will be implemented as the accounting books will close for the end of 2025. 

The DSWD will move to settle their balances and issue payments for the year, Dumlao said.

"Bago magsara ang ating accounting books ay [kailangan] ma-settle po natin o mabayaran itong ating service providers para hindi po tayo papasok ng susunod na taon na mayroon tayong mga accounts payable na kailangan itong isip," she shared.

(Before our accounting books close, we need to settle or pay our service providers so we won't have to enter the incoming year with accounts payable to think about.)

The AICS program currently has two types of financial assistance: outright cash assistance and guarantee letters.

Should beneficiaries prefer guarantee letters for a December 2025 discharge, Dumlao said, they may still submit a promissory note for a GL to be issued in January 2026.

While GL suspension remains in effect, Dumlao said the DSWD can still provide up to P10,000 in outright cash.

"[Kahit may suspension,] hindi nangangahulugan na titigil ang pagbigay natin ng tulong sa ilalim ng AICS program sapagkat mayroon pa tayong outright cash… Ma-provide po natin ang request na tulong sa ating assistance," she said.

(Even with the suspension in effect, it doesn't mean that our assistance under the AICS program will stop since we still have outright cash… We can still provide the requested help under our assistance.)

Meanwhile, Dumlao stressed that the suspension process occurs yearly as part of their annual yearend financial closing.

"Taon-taon natin ginagawa [ito]. 'Yan lang pinapaliwanag ulit sa ating mga kababayan… Hindi [sana] magkaroon ng misinterpretation at wala information na lalabas na pumigil ang programa. Hindi po, patuloy pa rin ang programa," she said.

(We do this yearly. That is what we want to clarify to the public… [I hope] there won't be any misinterpretation, or that misleading information would spread that the program will stop. That's not the case, the program will still proceed.)

Earlier, the DSWD had signed an agreement with pharmacies and health institutions to strengthen their collaboration for the AICS program.

The agreement included terms ensuring timely and efficient medical aid and other essential health services to beneficiaries from vulnerable sectors.

Among the signatories of the agreement were hospitals, pharmacies, diagnostic centers, therapy and learning centers, medical implant and device distributors, prosthesis providers, and dialysis centers. — VDV, GMA Integrated News