Tingog party-list is pushing for the passage of a measure that will provide immediate medical and other assistance to individuals and families who are indigent, vulnerable, disadvantaged, and in other crisis situations.

The medical aid may be from PHP1,000 to PHP150,000 and may be requested every three months by beneficiaries who passed a thorough screening by authorized social health workers, according to a news release of Tingog Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez and Jude Acidre on Sunday.

Citing the constitutional mandate to “free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services,” House Bill No.1940 aims to institutionalize the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The bill is pending before the Committee on Social Services.

“AICS is a social safety net or stopgap measure to support the recovery of individuals and families who are indigent, vulnerable, disadvantaged or are otherwise in crisis situations. It provides psychosocial intervention through therapies; direct financial or material assistance which enables such individuals and families to meet their basic needs in the form of food, transportation, medical educational, or burial assistance; and referral to other services of other national government agencies,” Tingog said.

Section 4 of the measure proposes that all request for assistance will be subject to screening, verification and assessment by the DSWD.

The amount of transportation assistance will be based on actual ticket quotation and may be availed of once a year.

The burial assistance may be between PHP5,000 and PHP25,000 and the educational cash aid from PHP1,000 to PHP10,000 available every year or semester, depending on the educational level.

Food or cash assistance for other support services and provision of personal protective equipment may also be requested.

Among the required documents, depending on the type of assistance applied for, are valid identification card; police blotter or certification; medical prescription, case study report, certificate or abstract; hospital billing statement or statement of account; death certificate; funeral contract; school enrolment assessment form or certificate of registration; school identification card; travel documents; and other supporting documents that may be required. (With a report from Zaldy De Layola/PNA)