House bill strengthening DSWD ‘Persons in Crisis’ aid program nears OK
Only days before Congress adjourns for a four-month break, the House of Representatives approved a measure seeking to institutionalize one of the aid or “ayuda” programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Lawmakers on Tuesday approved on second reading through viva voce House Bill (HB) No. 11395, which would make the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) a fixed program.
It was not clear whether the House has reached an agreement with the Senate on the disposition of the bill since both chambers were scheduled to adjourn on Feb. 7 until the scheduled resumption of sessions under the 19th Congress on June 2.
Nonetheless, the bill also seeks to penalize with a jail term of up to 10 years people who commit fraud to avail themselves of the program.
In her sponsorship of the bill, Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo said there were 7.1 million AICS beneficiaries last year, compared to 4.4 million in 2022 and 6.5 million in 2023.
She pointed out that she sees the number of beneficiaries this year generally remaining the same, based on the P44-billion budget set aside for AICS in the 2025 General Appropriations Act against last year’s P34 billion.
Quimbo said that social protection programs remain necessary because “economic shocks [are] a part of life and the effect of economic shocks is it impacts consumption smoothing.”
The bill also created a congressional oversight committee to evaluate the need to continue the program within two years after its effectivity.
Quimbo said that safeguards against abuse were included in HB 11395, particularly the enumeration of prohibited acts and their corresponding penalties.
The bill would make it illegal for local government officials or employees, including their relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, to interfere in the implementation of the program.
The measure provides for six months of imprisonment for violators plus administrative liabilities for public workers.
A first offense of fraud is punishable with a year’s suspension from availing of any assistance, while a second offense will lead to imprisonment of one to six years.
If the violator is an organization, its president, manager or any officer who participated in committing prohibited acts or benefited may face jail time of six to 10 years.
