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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
February 2, 2026 | 12:00am
Senate of the Philippines.
Graphics by Philstar.com / Enrico Alonzo
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on social justice, welfare, and rural development is pushing to simplify access to government aid and shield its distribution from political influence, as it deliberates a measure seeking to institutionalize the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
During a recent hearing, committee chair Sen. Erwin Tulfo said the proposal aims to reduce documentary requirements for beneficiaries to make assistance more accessible.
“What we will do is limit the requirements to two. We will ensure that unnecessary requirements, such as barangay indigency forms and marriage contracts, are removed. If you need medical assistance, for example, you will only need to provide a valid ID and a hospital bill,” Tulfo said.
At present, applicants for aid are typically required to submit a valid ID, certificate of indigency, barangay clearance, notarized affidavit, social case study report and, in certain cases, a marriage certificate.
Tulfo argued that streamlining the requirements would help prevent political figures from inserting themselves into the process.
“Truthfully, this is where politics comes in. When a Filipino needs aid, they often have no choice but to ask for an indigency form plastered with the faces and names of barangay officials. This is currently a requirement; otherwise, they have no chance of getting help,” he said.
Under the proposed measure, AICS would be institutionalized as a permanent program. The DSWD told the panel that if the bill becomes law, the department intends to elevate AICS into a bureau to improve staffing and implementation.
Tulfo also called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to speed up the dissemination of guidelines reiterating that elected officials are barred from intervening in aid distribution.
“The 2026 General Appropriations Act clearly states that the presence of politicians in aid distribution is not allowed. Act on it quickly because elections are approaching, and our fellow citizens fear aid will be used for politicking again,” he said.
In response, the DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2026-066 directing that names and photographs of public officials must not appear on government-funded projects.
The committee is expected to continue deliberations on the bill as lawmakers weigh safeguards to ensure that social assistance reaches beneficiaries without additional bureaucratic or political hurdles.
