Specific guidelines for assistance in AICS program sough

March 24, 2018 Opinion Sideglance

City Vice Mayor Edison Bilog is requesting the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) through the Honorable City Mayor and in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera Administrative Region for the immediate formulation of a well-defined and specific guidelines in the grant of financial assistance to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) in the City of Baguio.

The proposal from the Vice Mayor came about as a result of a recent Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) issued by the Commission on Audit (COA) Office of the Audit Team Leader and the Supervising Auditor Team Car-01 Audit Group LGS-G-Baguio City.

In the said AOM of the COA it was observed that there is a lack of well-defined and specific guidelines on the grant of Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) which resulted to inconsistencies in the grants and donations of financial assistance, thus casting doubt on the effective utilization of funds totaling more than P2.8 million.

In the proposed Resolution introduced by City Vice Mayor Bilog it was cited that the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council) of Baguio passed Ordinance Numbered 46 series of 2001 to provide relief and rehabilitation assistance to victims of disasters and calamities, both man-made and natural, and in 2009 Ordinance Numbered 80 was approved which increased the rates for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), for burial and for emergency shelter assistance.

It was also noted by the Vice Mayor as reflected in his proposal that the City Mayor issued Executive Order No. 01, series of 2010, providing for the implementing guidelines of Ordinance Numbered 80 series of 2009 as prepared by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and that the Department of Social Welfare and Development likewise issued Memorandum Circular No. 02, series of 2014 providing guidelines to strengthen and enhance the implementation of the AICS program.

In its recommendation the COA-CAR Team CAR-01, Audit Group LGS-G-Baguio City suggested that the concerned agency or office in coordination with the Sangguniang Panlungsod formulate/establish sets of well-defined and specific guidelines, in harmony with DSWD policies, on the grant of financial assistance under the AICS and other social welfare programs of the city government. It was also recommended that the CSWDO should prepare clear cut policy and guidelines which shall include the criteria/factors used and prescribed rates which will be the basis in the proper evaluation and granting of requests for assistance and that these information should be summarized and/or documented in the Certificate of Eligibility for audit purposes.

Finally, it was also recommended that the CSWDO strictly adhere to guidelines in the grant of financial assistance and donations especially on the submission of complete supporting documents and adherence to the objectives/descriptions of the City Social Welfare programs.