Nanawagan ng suporta si Sen. Erwin Tulfo sa kanyang mga kasamahan na suportahan ang agarang pagpasa ng kanyang Senate Bill No. 1966 na layong i-institutionalize ang pamamahagi ng assistance to individuals in crisis situations program o AICS at maiwasan na ito ay magamit sa pamumulitika.
Sa kanyang sponsorship speech, sinabi ni Tulfo na, “in doing so, we give substance to our promise that help will be there when it is needed most, not as a matter of political discretion but as a matter of right.
“I rise before you to sponsor a measure that speaks directly to the heart of public service—the responsibility of the government to stand beside our people during their most difficult moments,” he said, as he sought support for the swift passage of Senate Bill No. 1966 under Committee Report No. 46: An Act Institutionalizing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD),” aniya,
Dagdag pa niya”it has helped families facing medical emergencies, students struggling to stay in school, workers displaced by sudden crises and communities recovering from disasters, but while the program has long been implemented administratively, this measure ensures that it becomes a permanent and protected program under the law—a program that will endure beyond administrations.”
Ang AICS Act, aniya, ay ginagabayan ng prinsipyo na ang gobyerno ay dapat laging handang umalalay sa mamamayan sa oras ng kagipitan at pangangailangan: ” When a family faces a medical emergency, when a student is on the brink of dropping out, or when a household loses its breadwinner, government assistance should not be uncertain or temporary.”
Ayon kay Sen. Erwin Tulfo, ang kanyang panukala “affirms the government’s policy to promote a just and dynamic social order and to alleviate the plight of the poor by providing accessible social services and programs that improve the quality of life of every Filipino.
“Through the AICS Act, individuals and families experiencing crisis situations will be able to access different forms of assistance, including financial assistance for urgent needs intended for funeral assistance, transportation assistance, medical assistance, educational assistance, and other cash assistance; material assistance, such as food packs and essential non-food items; psychosocial support for individuals and families dealing with trauma or emotional distress and referral services to appropriate agencies for longer-term interventions,” aniya.
Ang krisis, ayon pa sa kanya, ay walang pinipili: “A student-in-crisis, a farmer affected by calamity, a senior citizen needing urgent medical care, a solo parent struggling to support their children, or members of our indigenous communities facing displacement—all deserve timely help. Sa madaling sabi, walang Pilipino ang dapat maiwan kapag sila ay nasa gitna ng matinding pagsubok.”
Tinitiyak umano ng kanyang panukala na palalakasin nito ang ‘transparency and accountability’ at patas na pamimigay ng ayuda sa pamamagitan ng DSWD, kung saan lahat ng karapat-dapat, batay sa professional social worker assessment, ay makatatanggap ng nasabing tulong
“More importantly, the measure explicitly prohibits political involvement in the distribution of assistance where no elected official, political party or candidate may participate in or influence the distribution of aid and no political signage, branding or imagery will be allowed,” pagdidin pa ni Tulfo.
“It was learned that the measure also seeks to establish an Integrated Program Delivery System in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to modernize service delivery, ensure data privacy under the Data Privacy Act of 2012 and prevent duplication or abuse of assistance. To ensure effective oversight, a joint Congressional oversight committee will be constituted, allowing Congress to regularly monitor implementation, identify gaps and recommend improvements,” paliwanag ng Senador.
Dagdag pa nito:”By institutionalizing AICS, we ensure that assistance is systematic, fair, transparent, and insulated from political interference—so that help reaches those who truly need it, at the time they need it most. This measure is not merely about providing aid. It is about affirming a fundamental promise of governance: na ang pamahalaan ay kakampi ng mamamayan lalo na sa panahon ng krisis.”
