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MANILA, Philippines — Beyond the controversial health aid program anchored on politicians’ guarantee letters, another financial assistance scheme also received a budget boost during the third bicameral conference hearing.
Five hours into the hearing, the panel approved a P63.895-billion budget for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), which is more than double the P27 billion originally sought by the executive branch.
AICS, a program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), offers financial aid for medical, burial, food, transport, and education needs of indigent Filipinos in emergencies.
While the program is implemented by the DSWD, it has long been criticized as a stopgap or "band-aid" solution that lends itself to patronage politics, with public officials portrayed as the source of assistance. It has also been at the center of repeated allegations of misuse and possible "pork."
House Appropriations Chair Mikaela Suansing proposed the additional funding after Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian requested an extra P43 billion from Congress, hoping to bring the total AICS budget to P70 billion.
"The department seeks additional funding to continue providing necessary financial support to around 7 million beneficiaries who would otherwise be left without assistance due to the non-inclusion of the AKAP (Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program) and the decreased allocation for AICS for 2026," Suansing said, reading Gatchalian's request.
The House, however, in its approved version of the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), was only able to accommodate a P32-billion increase due to the limited fiscal space, Suansing said. This raised the proposed AICS budget to P59.1 billion.
The chamber also stopped itself from reinserting AKAP funds, as it had in previous years, after the executive branch entirely zeroed out the program’s 2026 budget intended for low-income workers — a justification Gatchalian used to appeal for a P70 billion budget.
The Senate, meanwhile, approved a much smaller increase of P7.492 billion over the National Expenditure Program’s (NEP) request, leaving its version roughly P24.56 billion below the House’s proposal.
Despite the wide gap between the House and Senate versions — P59.1 billion versus P34.5 billion — the bicameral committee approved a motion that only raised the AICS budget further to P63.895 billion, exceeding both proposals.
From unprogrammed to programmed
A few lawmakers expressed support for the budget increase, with Suansing and Sen. Erwin Tulfo (former DSWD secretary) pointing out that the P44-billion AICS allocation for 2025 fell short, particularly after successive storms and earthquakes left hundreds dead and caused widespread infrastructure damage.
Minority Leader Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan moved to approve the budget increase, while Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gatchalian said the boost reflects the removal of unprogrammed funds under the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP), which both chambers had stripped from their proposals.
Sherwin added that, instead of relying on funds prone to abuse, the resources would be better realigned as programmed allocations through AICS.
"In other words, the DSWD no longer has a source of funds (from unprogrammed). There are no more SAGIP funds under the unprogrammed category. So, I see this as another reason why we should transfer the funds from unprogrammed to programmed appropriations," the senator said in a mix of English and Filipino.
No more politicking?
Sen. Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, expressed some opposition against the larger AICS budget, saying she hopes the funds will not be politicized again.
Tulfo, however, explained that the Senate has proposed to insert a special provision in the budget bill to avoid further politicking.
According to the Senate's line-by-line amendments, approved on December 9, the provision specifically prohibits political involvement in the distribution of cash aid. Only the DSWD, which is the government agency responsible for implementing the AICS program, should be authorized.
"No incumbent public official, electoral candidate, politician or any of their representatives shall be allowed to present in, participate in, influence or otherwise take part in the conduct, facilitation or distribution of any cash assistance, nor shall any political signage, branding paraphernalia or activity be displayed or conducted within the distribution area," a portion of the provision read.
The special provision also directs the national government agency to enforce protocols and reporting mechanisms in implementing the AICS program.
"We can only ask the DSWD and direct them where the calamity-stricken areas are, and as a matter of fact, it is the DSWD who chooses the beneficiaries," Tulfo argued.
If provinces always had to wait for the quick response fund during disasters, the senator said it would take around two to three weeks before financial assistance could be released. "Whereas if the AICS is there, it would be easy for the department ot release directly to the beneficiaries," Tulfo added.
Delayed hearing
The bicam proceedings did not resume until around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, delaying the scheduled hearing by four hours — only to defer deliberations on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget to Wednesday, December 17.
The holdup stemmed from unresolved differences between the House and Senate contingents over the DPWH's request to restore P45 billion to its budget, after the Senate cut allocations due to materials being overpriced.
Rather than resolving their differences during the hearing, lawmakers chose to discuss budget matters privately on the sidelines. Critics and budget watchdogs have condemned the move, saying it contradicts Congress' earlier commitment to a transparent, livestreamed bicameral proceeding.
