The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) is the counterpart of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the provincial government’s office. It serves as the provincial government’s lead social arm that implements programs designed to support the marginalized, poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged communities, focusing on improving their quality of life. Through its services, the office provides cash aid, relief assistance, and technical support to ensure that vulnerable communities receive the help they need.
Established under the 1991 Local Government Code, the PSWDO serves as a direct service provider and technical partner for various social welfare initiatives. Its commitment extends to delivering immediate assistance, aiding individuals and families in crisis, disaster response, and creating pathways for socio-economic development, protecting vulnerable individuals from neglect, exploitation, and abuse. In this guide, we rounded up a list of assistance programs offered by the agency in an attempt to make the public more aware of the support services they can avail of from the PSWDO.
Types of Financial Assistance Programs Offered by the PSWDO
As the main social arm of the provincial government in charge of implementing the various local social welfare initiatives in the provinces, the PSWDO offers various types of programs for the vulnerable groups in the province. Here are some general types of financial assistance programs offered by the PSWDO:
- Crisis and Emergency Assistance: Provides immediate financial aid and resources such as food, shelter, and medical support to individuals and families affected by emergencies, disasters, or crises.
- Social Welfare and Protection Assistance: Offers support services to vulnerable individuals and families, including women, children, and solo parents, through shelter, counseling, and financial aid to improve their well-being and safety.
- Disability and Special Needs Assistance: Supports individuals with disabilities and marginalized groups by providing financial, medical, and educational aid to enhance their quality of life and ensure inclusion.
- Livelihood and Reintegration Support: Helps individuals, particularly those from vulnerable sectors and returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), by offering livelihood opportunities, skills training, and reintegration assistance.
- Health and Medical Assistance:Provides financial assistance for medical treatment, hospitalization, and specialized care, particularly for individuals in need of expensive, ongoing medical procedures like dialysis or chemotherapy.
- Burial and Funeral Assistance: Offers financial support to families for burial and funeral expenses, particularly for senior citizens, veterans, and other eligible individuals, to alleviate the financial burden during times of grief.
- Housing and Shelter Support: Assists disaster victims and displaced individuals with financial aid for home repairs or temporary housing, ensuring they have safe and secure living conditions.
For a complete list of the actual and specific programs and benefits offered by the different PSWDO offices in the different provinces across the country, you may check the list below:
1. Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)
The AICS program provides financial assistance to individuals facing crises such as medical emergencies, burial expenses, or natural calamities. It is designed to support vulnerable individuals and families in addressing urgent needs. This program offers help in the form of medical, burial, and disaster relief assistance.
Purpose: To provide immediate financial support to individuals and families in distress due to medical, funeral, or disaster-related situations.
Benefits:
- Medical Assistance
- Covers hospitalization, medications, and medical procedures such as:
- Dialysis
- Chemotherapy
- CT scans
- MRIs
- 2D Echo
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Available for:
- In-patients confined at government hospitals
- Out-patients undergoing tests or procedures (e.g., ultrasound due to illness, excluding pregnancy-related issues).
- Covers hospitalization, medications, and medical procedures such as:
- Burial Assistance
- Financial support for funeral expenses, provided under the following conditions:
- Assistance sought before the interment date with complete documents.
- Assistance sought before the interment date with incomplete documents, completed within 5 working days after the funeral.
- Assistance sought within 5 working days after the interment with complete documents.
- Assistance sought within 5 working days after the interment with incomplete documents, completed within 2 additional working days.
- Financial support for funeral expenses, provided under the following conditions:
- Disaster Relief
- Assistance for victims of natural disasters, including:
- Floods
- Landslides
- Fires
- Tornadoes, whirlwinds, flash floods, and similar calamities.
- Assistance for victims of natural disasters, including:
2. Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Assistance
The VAWC Assistance program offers support services to women and children who are victims of abuse. It provides temporary shelter, psychological counseling, and legal or medical assistance to help survivors heal and seek justice. The program aims to protect the well-being of survivors and help them navigate through their cases.
Purpose: To provide support and protection for women and children who are victims of violence.
Benefits:
- Temporary shelter
- Psychological counseling
- Legal and medical support
- Case resolution assistance
3. Support for Solo Parents
This program provides financial assistance to solo parents, helping them cover essential needs such as food, transportation, and medical expenses. It aims to ease the burden of single-handedly managing a family. Eligible solo parents can apply for support through local government units.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance and alleviate the challenges faced by solo parents in raising their children.
Benefits:
- Financial aid for food
- Financial aid for transportation
- Financial assistance for medical needs
4. Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
The Assistance for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) program provides financial and medical support to individuals with disabilities. This initiative aims to enhance their quality of life and enable greater participation in community activities. It also promotes the inclusion of PWDs in society by addressing their specific needs.
Purpose: To improve the well-being of PWDs and ensure they have access to resources that support their integration into the community.
Benefits:
- Financial assistance for PWDs
- Medical support and services
5. Relief Assistance
The PSWDO offers immediate support to victims of disasters, focusing on food and shelter needs. The assistance is available to individuals and families affected by calamities, as well as those displaced by violence. The program aims to provide quick relief to those in urgent need of aid.
Purpose: To provide timely food and shelter assistance to disaster victims and displaced individuals.
Benefits:
- Food Assistance (Walk-Ins): For individuals and families affected by calamities.
- Requirements: Barangay certification and disaster report.
- Duration: Processed within 2 hours.
- Temporary Shelter Assistance: For disaster victims or individuals displaced due to violence.
- Requirements: Barangay certification, disaster report, and referral letter.
6. Shelter Assistance Program
The Shelter Assistance Program provides financial aid to individuals whose homes were partially or fully damaged due to disasters. This program aims to support the reconstruction or repair of affected dwellings. It offers financial assistance to qualified victims to help them return to their homes as quickly as possible.
Purpose: To help disaster victims rebuild their homes and ensure they have access to safe and secure housing.
Benefits:
- Financial assistance for home repairs or reconstruction
- Processing time: Up to 10 working days
7. Food and Transportation Assistance
This program assists individuals returning to their provinces or those stranded due to emergencies, such as the “Balik Probinsya” initiative. It offers food and transportation support to ease the journey of those in need. The program aims to provide timely relief to individuals facing difficulties in returning to their homes.
Purpose: To provide essential food and transportation assistance to individuals in need during emergencies or relocation.
Benefits:
- Food assistance
- Transportation support
Duration: Processed within 2 days.
8. Medical Assistance for Dialysis and Chemotherapy
This program provides financial assistance to patients who require regular dialysis or chemotherapy treatments. It aims to alleviate the burden of high medical expenses associated with these procedures. The assistance ensures that patients can continue their treatment without financial constraints.
Purpose: To support patients undergoing dialysis or chemotherapy by covering a portion of their medical expenses.
Benefits:
- Financial aid for dialysis and chemotherapy treatments
- Assistance with medical costs for qualified patients
9. Financial Assistance for Hospitalization (Public Hospitals only)
This program offers financial assistance to individuals or families admitted to public hospitals. It helps by providing guarantee letters for the cost of hospitalization. The assistance aims to alleviate the financial burden of medical expenses for those in need.
Purpose: To support individuals and families who are admitted to public hospitals by covering part of their medical costs through guarantee letters.
Benefits:
- Guarantee letters to cover hospital expenses
- Assistance for medical services within public hospitals
10. Nonagenarian Support Program
This program provides recognition and financial assistance to individuals aged 90-99 years old. Immediate family members or authorized representatives can process claims on their behalf.
Purpose: To honor and support nonagenarians for their longevity and contribution to society.
Benefits:
- Financial assistance for nonagenarians
- Certification and recognition from local authorities
11. Provision of Financial Assistance on Reintegration Assistance for OFW and Migrants (RAOM) / Partnership with Public/Private Institutions and Companies for OFWs Assistance (PPPICOA)
This program provides financial assistance to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and migrants to support their reintegration into society after returning to the Philippines. It collaborates with public and private institutions to offer sustainable assistance and opportunities for OFWs. The initiative aims to ease the transition of OFWs back to their communities and help them achieve stability.
Purpose: To assist returning OFWs in rebuilding their lives through financial aid and partnerships with institutions for additional support.
Benefits:
- Financial assistance for reintegration.
- Collaboration with private and public institutions for job opportunities.
- Support for skills development and training programs.
12. Provision of Financial Assistance (Burial Assistance for Senior Citizens/Veterans)
This program provides financial support to assist families with burial expenses for deceased senior citizens and veterans. It acknowledges the contributions of these individuals to society by extending aid during times of grief. The program aims to ease the financial burden on bereaved families.
Purpose: To support families of senior citizens and veterans in covering burial-related expenses.
Benefits:
- Financial aid for burial expenses.
- Assistance extended to families of senior citizens and veterans.
13. Provision of Livelihood Assistance to PSWDO-Identified Vulnerable Sector
This program offers livelihood assistance to vulnerable sectors identified by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO). It provides resources and training to empower individuals to achieve financial independence. The initiative addresses economic challenges faced by marginalized communities.
Purpose: To enhance the livelihood opportunities of vulnerable individuals and families, promoting self-sufficiency and financial stability.
Benefits:
- Livelihood packages for identified beneficiaries.
- Training and workshops for skill development.
- Monitoring and support for livelihood sustainability.
14. Preparation of Payroll for Active IP and PWD Student Grantees
This program facilitates the preparation and release of allowances for Indigenous People (IP) and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) student grantees. It ensures timely financial support to assist these students in their educational journey. The initiative promotes inclusivity and equal access to education for IP and PWD students.
Purpose: To provide financial allowances that support the education of IP and PWD students.
Benefits:
- Regular allowances for active student grantees.
- Assistance exclusively for IP and PWD students.
- Specific assistance tailored to the needs of IP and PWD beneficiaries.
15. Emergency Assistance Program
The Emergency Assistance Program provides immediate support to individuals and families affected by disasters, emergencies, or other unforeseen crises. It aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by sudden disruptions to people’s lives by offering financial aid, food, shelter, and other necessities. The program is designed to ensure that basic needs are met during times of urgent need, ensuring a swift recovery.
Purpose: To provide immediate financial and material assistance to individuals and families in emergencies, helping them recover from disasters and unforeseen situations.
Benefits:
- Financial assistance for immediate needs
- Temporary shelter and housing support
- Food, water, and essential supplies
- Transportation assistance for evacuation or relocation
- Medical assistance for emergency health needs
Video: Releasing of PSWDO Financial Assistance Programs
The PSWDO offers a range of financial and social support programs tailored to assist individuals in crisis or disaster situations. This video from Taga Victorias shows an actual PSWDO event as they release financial assistance so those who need them can better access the help they need in times of emergency.
Summary
The PSWDO supports communities through various financial assistance programs such as Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations, medical and burial assistance, disaster relief, and shelter programs. These initiatives aim to provide immediate support and long-term benefits for those in need. By partnering with LGUs and NGOs, the PSWDO helps bridge gaps in social welfare services for vulnerable sectors. If you require assistance, visit your local PSWDO and submit the necessary documents to start the application process for the assistance you need today.