Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as he visited the patients of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) on Monday, February 6, during the Institute’s 40th year Founding Anniversary.

During the visit, Secretary Gatchalian provided cash assistance to the indigent patients of the NKTI through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

Some 160 eligible patients admitted to the hospital received Php10,000 cash assistance each. The patients can use the financial assistance for their medical expenses as well as for their basic daily expenses while in the hospital.

The AICS program serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, natural and man-made disasters, and other crisis situation.

Aside from cash assistance, families and individuals who are in crisis situation may avail of medical, burial, transportation, and educational assistance through the AICS.

In 2022, a total of 5,336,381 individuals in crisis situation were provided with outright cash and other assistance. ###