The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) upcoming new guidelines for the implementation of its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) will feature provisions safeguarding the program from any political influence and promote community participation.
“Ito kasi lagi natin sinasabi, pinaka-mahalaga kasi dyan is to get community participation. Yun pong ating mga beneficiaries, dapat alam po nila na dapat walang mga political actors sa ating mga payout events. So kung alam po nila, mataas ang level of awareness, sila po mismo ang mag-rereport kung may ma-oobserve sila,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, explained in an interview with True FM’s “Good Morning, Bayan!” program on Monday (January 19).
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the anti-political influence guidelines was previously adopted by the DSWD in 2025 under the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2025-01 along with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), formerly the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), for the implementation of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“While wala na pong AKAP for 2026, we could adopt the same guidelines na kung saan nakalagay nga po roon sa ating panuntunan na talagang bawal po yung appearance ng mga political actors sa mga isasagawa natin na mga payout activities,” Asst Secretary Dumlao said.
“Bawal din po yung pagpapaskil ng mga tarpaulin, mga posters dun sa mga payout sites, and of course, isa sa mahalagang detalye nung panuntunan natin ay yung paglalagay ng mga grievance desks during our payout event,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
Aside from the grievance desks during offsite payout activities, Asst. Secretary Dumlao also encouraged the public to report any complaint or concern to the DSWD’s Integrated Grievance Redress Management System (IGRMS).
The IGRMS is an online system that enhances the monitoring and management of complaints from DSWD beneficiaries and the public regarding the Department’s programs and services. The online platform can be accessed at https://i-grs.dswd.gov.ph./.
“Again, ang mahalaga rito, yung nabanggit ko, community participation, hangga’t walang nagrereklamo, of course, hindi rin iyan matutugunan and hindi po natin matatapos yung issue on pag-eepal kaya mahalaga na available at meron access po ang ating mga kababayan sa mga grievance platforms,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said. (AKDL)
