The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said its flagship crisis assistance program could struggle to meet demand next year after its proposed budget was cut by almost half despite a higher beneficiary target.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian told the House appropriations committee that AICS was allotted Php 33.3 billion under the 2027 National Expenditure Program, sharply lower than the Php 63.9 billion provided this year.
The reduction comes as the agency plans to reach 4.63 million beneficiaries in 2027, up from this year’s target of about 4.24 million.
Gatchalian said the funding level may not be enough to sustain the program’s recent reach, particularly because AICS is designed to respond quickly when families face sudden financial or social crises.
He cited the program’s recent use in providing cash assistance to 1.839 million drivers affected by rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict. As of Sept. 5, DSWD said AICS had already served 5.75 million households.
The broader DSWD budget was also reduced, with the department and its attached and supervised agencies receiving Php 241.2 billion in the proposed 2027 spending plan, compared with Php 269.9 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
Beyond emergency aid, DSWD also asked lawmakers to increase funding for the Sustainable Livelihood Program by Php 1 billion. The program was given Php 5.1 billion in the 2027 proposal, slightly below this year’s Php 5.3 billion.
The agency wants SLP to serve 251,449 households next year, with Gatchalian arguing that livelihood support can help beneficiaries move toward greater self-reliance rather than depend solely on short-term assistance.
Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Adrian Amatong backed stronger livelihood funding, saying government support should increasingly help families build sustainable income sources instead of relying on repeated dole-outs.