MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) confirmed that its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program will absorb the 3.9 million beneficiaries of the defunded Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), ensuring continued support for vulnerable households under its 2026 budget allocation of P63.8 billion.

The announcement was made over the weekend by Edwin Morata, director of the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Program (CIP). He explained that the AICS program has sufficient funding to accommodate former AKAP beneficiaries, including the issuance of Guarantee Letters (GLs) for qualified clients. 

“These 3.9 million will be part of the AICS this year. Of course they are all also undergoing crisis. For example, they are taking medicines, they’ve been hospitalized. So kapag inalis sila, baka sabihin nila na wala na silang mapupuntahan. But rest assured, AICS is still there,” Morata said in a radio interview.

The AKAP program, which was designed to provide financial aid to low-income but not indigent families, was defunded in the 2026 national budget. Its beneficiaries will now be covered by AICS, a long-standing DSWD initiative that provides assistance to individuals and families facing medical, burial, transportation, food, and other crisis-related needs. The agency emphasized that the transition will be seamless, with no disruption in aid distribution.

According to the DSWD, the P63.8-billion allocation for AICS this year is intended to ensure that all qualified beneficiaries, including those previously under AKAP, will continue to receive support. 

Guarantee Letters will be issued to cover hospitalization, medicines, and other urgent needs, while direct financial aid will remain available for those in extreme crisis situations. The department also highlighted that the program is nationwide in scope, serving millions of Filipinos across different regions.

The move comes amid growing concerns about inflation and rising costs of living, which have placed additional strain on middle- and low-income households. By absorbing AKAP beneficiaries into AICS, the government aims to maintain social protection coverage and prevent gaps in assistance. The DSWD reiterated its commitment to prioritize vulnerable sectors, including families affected by illness, disasters, and other emergencies.

This development underscores the administration’s effort to streamline social welfare programs while ensuring that no beneficiary is left behind. For many Filipinos who relied on AKAP, the continuation of aid through AICS provides reassurance that government support remains available during times of crisis.

Budget Stability, Household Uncertainty

A P63.8-billion AICS budget signals stability. Absorbing 3.9 million former AKAP beneficiaries promises continuity, not collapse. On paper, the safety net holds, and crisis aid remains available nationwide.

But scale strains systems. AICS was built for emergencies, not income gaps. Add millions, and screening, queues, and Guarantee Letters risk dilution, delays, and thinner help per household.

Budget stability matters, yet households feel uncertainty when rules change. If funds stretch, who waits longer and who gets less? Can one program expand fast enough without shrinking support where it’s needed most? That is the real test now for families nationwide today here.

Image from DSWD