By LYJAH TIFFANY BONZO, GMA News Published May 22, 2026 12:37pm + Add GMA on Google Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program is open to all individuals—regardless of whether they are poor or belong to the middle class.In a media forum, DSWD's Crisis Intervention Program Director Edwin Morata said "shocks" or unforeseen situations choose no social status during disasters or energy emergencies. "Hindi pinipili ng shocks kung ikaw ay mayaman o mahirap, may trabaho o wala, kung ikaw ay nasa middle class o ikaw ay low-income earner o minimum wage. Maaaring disaster, lahat tayo ay apektado. Ang energy emergency, lahat tayo ay apektado. Even health shocks, lahat tayo ay apektado," Morata told reporters on Thursday.(Shocks don't choose whether you are rich or poor, employed or not, a member of the middle class, or a low-income or minimum-wage earner. In disasters, all of us are affected. In an energy emergency, everyone feels the impact. Even with health crises, all of us are affected.)"'Yan po ang lagi natin sinasabi na kapag may pangangailangan na hindi napaghandaan ng isang tao o pamilya, 'yung pinansyal na kapasidad nila na tugunan 'yung pangangailangan, kaya may ganito tayong programa," he added. (That is what we always say, that if a person or a family faces an unexpected need, this program exists to provide the financial capacity to meet it.)According to the DSWD, it continuously enhances AICS guidelines to assist the evolving needs of different clients. The AICS program is a social welfare service that assists with medical, burial, transportation, education, food, or other financial needs.AICS applicationsMorata said the department has also streamlined the process of the AICS application.Now, AICS clients just need to undergo three steps: queuing, assessment and interview, and release of assistance. For the documentary requirements, the client needs to provide the following:valid identification of the claimant; and medical certificate, medical abstract, or a certification from a psychiatrist or psychologist.Depending on the assistance being requested, the client has to submit the following additional proof of documentation to support the claim: For laboratory or diagnostic procedures, and requests for medical implants or assistive devices – a request for a laboratory for a diagnostic procedure with a price quotation. For patients undergoing therapy and other special treatment – a doctor's order or treatment protocol with a price quotation. For medicine requests — a prescription for the medicine For hospital bill assistance – a statement of account.In the 2026 national budget, the AICS program received a P63.9-billion budget.The DSWD earlier reported that it extended aid from the AICS program to over 8.2 million Filipinos from January to November 2025. — VDV, GMA News