QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has clarified that endorsement letters from politicians or influential individuals do not secure preferential treatment for individuals applying for financial assistance.
Speaking at a media forum on Thursday, November 12, Crisis Intervention Program (CIP) Director Edwin Morata emphasized that while the agency accepts referral letters as endorsements, they are entirely optional and play no role in determining aid.
“Pagdating po sa mata ng social worker, ang titingnan po talaga namin dito ay yung kwento ng tao at yung dokumento na magpapatunay na may pangangailangan ang kliyente. Ganun po namin ina-assess ang isang kliyente sa loob ng ating opisina,” Morata said.
“Hindi po namin ni-rerequire ang referral letter. Hindi naman po sa sinasabi namin na bawal, pero baka kasi minsan may mga Good Samaritan na gustong magpadala ng referral letter, at kami po tinatanggap namin iyan as our means of acknowledging na ito ay properly endorsed. But hindi siya requirement, and it will never affect the assessment of the social worker in giving a certain amount in terms of the assessment of the need,” he added.
Streamlined Requirements
To make the process more accessible, Morata reminded applicants that a certificate of indigency is no longer required. Clients only need to present a single valid government-issued ID to apply for support through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
“Paalala lang po, matagal na po kaming one valid ID only. And actually, we’ve been encouraging everybody na mag-apply sila ng National ID because the National ID, tinatanggap na po natin sya,” Morata stated.
Growing Reach Nationwide
The AICS program provides crucial financial aid for medical, burial, educational, transportation, and food needs.
According to DSWD data, the program has served 8,026,616 beneficiaries nationwide as of the third quarter of 2026.
Locally, the DSWD Paragon Center in Quezon City accommodates between 1,500 and 1,700 beneficiaries daily. Additionally, social workers deployed across 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide assisted 213,555 beneficiaries by September 2026, showing an increase from previous years.
“The team is trying to accommodate everybody. We have to also recognize na tumataas ang numero na sineserve natin at nag-e-expand,” Morata noted.