Philippines Faces Potential Loss of Aid for 4 Million Beneficiaries Due to DSWD Budget Cut

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday said around 4 million beneficiaries may be unable to receive assistance in 2027 following a P30.61-billion reduction in funding for its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. During House of Representatives plenary deliberations on its proposed budget, Party-list Rep. Presley C. De Jesus noted that the AICS allocation would fall to P33.29 billion under the National Expenditure Program from P63.90 billion this year. DSWD budget sponsor, Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman A. Nava, said the agency expected to serve around 6 million to 8 million clients this year but estimated that about 4 million would not be able to avail themselves of AICS because of the funding reduction. DSWD Secretary Rexlon T. Gatchalian later said the agency was appealing to Congress to restore the funding, citing the potential impact on millions of Filipinos who may need assistance next year. “We want to restore it because it was reduced,” Mr. Gatchalian told reporters in Filipino. “So we are asking for help from Congress, we are appealing that it hopefully be brought back.” The agency’s estimate showed that around 4 million individuals seeking assistance from the DSWD could potentially be turned away if the reduction is not restored. Mr. Gatchalian described AICS as a standby fund that the government can use when Filipinos are affected by unexpected crises, including disasters and other emergencies. The program had been used to provide assistance to families affected by disasters, an agricultural pest outbreak and an energy emergency, as well as to support families considered vulnerable to falling into poverty, he said. Secretary Gatchalian said that the DSWD still has funds in its AICS account but has also sought augmentation from the Department of Budget and Management because of the breadth of assistance being provided. The requested augmentation would be enough to cover the government’s uplift assistance, allowing the regular AICS allocation to continue supporting people seeking help for medical and other needs, he added. Asked how much funding should be restored, Mr. Gatchalian said the DSWD was seeking to bring the allocation back to around P63 billion. This likely refers to the original budget figure.