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AICS satellite offices to decongest DSWD processing areas

By Zaldy De Layola

April 26, 2023, 4:50 pm

<p>File photo</p>

File photo

MANILA – New Assistance in Crisis Situation (AICS) program satellite offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon be opened to avoid overcrowding in the existing processing areas and to bring various services and interventions closer to Metro Manila and Bulacan province residents.

“This initiative is one way to decongest our existing AICS payout areas, and to deliver services under AICS directly to our clients from different parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Uly Aguilar said in a statement on Wednesday.

Currently, there are only two existing AICS processing areas at the DSWD Central Office along Batasan Road, which services the entire Quezon City and Northern Caloocan areas, and the DSWD Field Office–National Capital Region in Sampaloc, Manila, which covers clients from the cities of Manila, San Juan, Mandaluyong and Makati.

The new satellite offices will cover the northern and southern parts of Metro Manila and will be operational on Thursday. The eastern satellite office will become operational at a later date.

To facilitate the request for assistance of clients from the northern Metro Manila cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) will fall under the Camanava satellite office located at the Victory Trade Plaza in Monumento.

The Baclaran Satellite Office located at the Victory Food Market beside Baclaran Church will cater to the residents of the southern Metro Manila cities of Pasay, Parañaque, Muntinlupa and Las Piñas.

In addition, Aguilar said the DSWD will also set up remote AICS processing areas in Pasig City and San Jose del Monte (SJDM) City in Bulacan this coming May.

The Pasig satellite office aims to deliver various forms of assistance under the AICS program, directly to clients residing in the eastern Metro Manila cities of Pasig, Marikina, Taguig and the municipality of Pateros.

Residents from the municipalities of Norzagaray, Sta. Maria, Angat and the city of San Jose del Monte (SJDM) in Bulacan will be serviced by the SJDM Satellite Office situated at Starmall in Barangay Kaypian, which will be operational on May 2, Aguilar said.

AICS serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism 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.

Aguilar reiterated that this initiative of putting up remote processing areas is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide government assistance in the easiest and fastest way possible to those in need.

IT experts, professionals

The DSWD is likewise set to form its Digital Transformation (DX) Team, which will be composed of talented and passionate professionals and experts from various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) disciplines, to play an integral role in revolutionizing social service delivery across the country.

The DX team will work on a wide range of innovative projects, as part of the DSWD’s digital transformation strategy, aimed at streamlining processes, enhancing accessibility and improving efficiency, under DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s “Ease of Doing Social Welfare” vision.

The DSWD leadership is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create a seamless, user-friendly experience for beneficiaries that will ultimately impact the lives of millions of Filipinos.

At the moment, the department is still in the process of establishing the team and is inviting applications from experts and professionals in various fields, including full-stack web development, UI/UX design, software quality engineering, cybersecurity, data privacy, project management, and enterprise architecture, who are interested to become part of the DX Team.

Successful applicants will have the unique opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team of experts, collaborate with domestic and international agencies and access valuable resources and global best practices.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the DSWD website at [https://jobs.dswd.gov.ph] for detailed job descriptions, qualifications and application procedures. Applications will be accepted until the given deadline of each vacant position.

The DSWD looks forward to welcoming innovative and passionate individuals to its DX team and revolutionizing the future of social services in the Philippines.

By joining DSWD's digital transformation journey, professionals can enhance their career prospects while making a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Filipinos. (PNA)

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