Clients in need of assistance in purchasing medications may now use agency-issued guarantee letters (GL) to buy their “maintenance medicines” in 171 branches of Mercury Drug Stores nationwide starting November 4, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced.
“We are happy to announce to all our kababayans that starting Monday next week, November 4, DSWD-issued guarantee letters are now accepted in 171 selected Mercury Drug Stores around the country. This partnership is a testament to the efforts of the DSWD to prioritize the welfare of individuals in crisis situations by ensuring a more efficient way to address their medical needs,” DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez said on Tuesday (October 29).
A Guarantee Letter is a document issued by the DSWD in favor of the beneficiary addressed to service providers that guarantees the payment of the service on behalf of the client, including medicine.
Some of the Mercury Drug Store branches that accommodate the DSWD-issued GLs from the Central Office are Fairview – Commonwealth; Ever Gotesco Commonwealth; Tandang Sora – Visayas; and Marikina – J.P. Rizal.
The DSWD-issued GLs from the DSWD Field Office-National Capital Region (NCR) are only accepted at the Quiapo – Plaza Miranda branch.
Clients in crisis from other regions may contact or visit any DSWD Field Office in their area of residence for the complete list of Mercury Drug Stores or pharmacies accepting DSWD-issued GLs.
Agency clients may also check the pharmacy for the signage “DSWD Guarantee Letter is accepted here” if the branch is accepting agency-issued GLs.
The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) is one of the social protection services of the DSWD that provides medical, burial, transportation, food, or financial assistance to individuals who are in crisis as assessed by social workers.
