MANILA – Applicants of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) have found the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) central office’s newly renovated and improved facilities “comfortable” for them to complete the Step 1 processing.
Rosemarie Portillo, 71, was thankful that she did not wait long outside after she arrived at the DSWD central office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City around 9 a.m. on Monday.
“Wala naman po pila sa labas, pinapasok na po kami ng gwardiya at derecho na po pagpila sa Step 1 (There were no lines outside the compound. When we arrived, the guard told us to go in and directly line up for Step 1),” she said.
She also found the Step 1 processing of the AICS very fast.
The Step 1 processing includes the review of initial documents and the issuance of a schedule to the clients for the next steps for their requests for assistance.
Dina Marcial, who requested assistance for the hospital bill of her mother, arrived around 11 a.m. but still had no difficulty waiting for her turn to submit documents.
“Matulin naman po ang process, saka, friendly naman po mga social workers” (The process was fast and the social workers are friendly),” Marcial said.
For over a month, the Step 1 processing was held at the QC-X Building of the Quezon Memorial Circle to give way to the renovations of the central office facilities to make the processing area more comfortable for the clients.
Processing of requests for assistance under AICS such as medical, hospital bill, transportation, burial, among others, is set from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.
Clients are advised to bring complete documents to facilitate the speedy processing of their requests.
AICS serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism meant to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, natural and man-made disasters and other crisis situations.
The program is implemented nationwide and clients are directed to seek assistance in the DSWD Field Office or satellite center near their place of residence. (PNA)
