Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has denied that public funds were wasted under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program despite findings by the Commission on Audit (COA) involving millions of pesos in questionable assistance.
Gatchalian said auditors did not identify fake beneficiaries or evidence that department employees stole funds. However, he acknowledged that some documents were not fully reviewed and that fraudulent medical certificates had been submitted.
He attributed these issues partly to the large number of people seeking assistance and possible mistakes by personnel processing applications.
The COA report found that about 5,000 beneficiaries received duplicate assistance, while approximately 400,000 received cash aid exceeding their authorized entitlements. The excess assistance amounted to ₱397.5 million.
Gatchalian explained that beneficiaries may receive up to ₱10,000 in assistance within three months, depending on their circumstances and the program’s guidelines.
The AICS program provides financial assistance to individuals and families facing medical emergencies, funeral expenses, transportation needs and other crises.
The audit findings have raised questions about the program’s screening procedures, documentation requirements and safeguards against duplicate or excessive payments.
Although Gatchalian maintained that no funds were wasted, the reported discrepancies highlight the importance of verifying beneficiary records and ensuring that public money reaches eligible recipients.
The findings do not, by themselves, establish that the questioned payments involved theft or intentional wrongdoing. Further clarification and appropriate corrective measures are important to address the audit observations and strengthen accountability in the distribution of government assistance.
