The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) identified Region IV-A as one of the target areas for the pilot implementation of the hybrid-digital payouts for the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

In a post at the official Facebook account of DSWD last May 22, 2024, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and LBP President Lynette Ortiz signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the pilot implementation of the hybrid-digital payouts for the said program in a ceremony held at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City last 21, 2024

Based on the MOA, the DSWD and LBP will be working together for the creation of a hybrid-digital payout system based on the indicated roles and responsibilities of each party. The said system that will be created will help make the disbursement of financial assistance to AICS beneficiaries swift, secure, and efficient.

According to Rodolfo Narciso, Social Welfare Officer III of DSWD Field Office IV-A, the implementation of the hybrid-digital payouts will help ease the disbursement of financial assistance to clients, particularly along the aspects of cash management and liquidation. This would in turn result into a faster and safer delivery of service to those in crisis.

Also present during the MOA signing ceremony are DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez, LBP Vice President Atty. Nikolas Tolentino and other DSWD officials, including the Regional Directors of the pilot regions.

Other target areas for the pilot implementation are Regions II (Cagayan) and III (Central Luzon), and the National Capital Region (NCR).

The AICS is one of the social welfare services of the DSWD that provides medical, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance to individuals who are in crisis as assessed by social workers.***