MANILA — The House Budget Amendments and Review Subcommittee (BARSc) recommended on Thursday a P25.806-billion budget hike for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program during 2027 national budget deliberations.
The additional funding was proposed after Guimaras Representative Rahman Nava raised concerns over the program’s reduced allocation in the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), and the potential impact of rising fuel prices and the anticipated El Niño phenomenon.
Rep. Nava said the AICS allocation in the 2027 NEP stood at P33 billion, significantly lower than its 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) level of more than P63 billion.
“The net level of AICS is for 2027 is 33 billion, which is a far cry from the GAA level, which is over 63 billion, Madam Chair. DSWD, in fact, is one among the agencies that suffered a significant reduction in budget as well. We want to emphasize
that, uh, AICS mentioning about the crisis we're experiencing, like the fuel crisis. This also serve as the critical source of immediate relief initiatives that the government had, uh, brought out to several sectors of our community, and programs like Uplift in response to the energy crisis or the national emergency. And the projected number or the GAA 2026 level is to serve at least 8 million individuals,” Nava said.
FUNDING FOR DSWD FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS
The panel also recommended the additional funding for three DSWD programs: ProtecTEEN, Project Aruga, and Project SAFE.
ProtecTEEN focuses on adolescent mothers and their families, while Project Aruga provides assistance to children with disabilities and their caregivers. Project SAFE addresses online sexual abuse involving children.
The panel recommended:
* P25 million increase for ProtecTEEN;
* P25 million increase for Project Aruga; and
* P13.8 million increase for Project SAFE
QUICK RESPONSE FUND CEILING RAISED
The panel also recommended increasing the Quick Response Fund (QRF) ceiling from P1.25 billion to P3 billion.
The move increases the ceiling by P1.75 billion but does not constitute an additional overall allocation, according to the committee.
“Not necessarily increasing the fund, but the ceiling allocation as what we did, uh, last, uh, year for the General Appropriations Act 2026, from 1.25 to 3 million. So an additional 1.75 billion ceiling for, for the total of 3 billion ceiling is, uh, hereby requested,” Nava said.
House Committee on Appropriations chairperson Rep. Mikaela Suansing clarified that the adjustment involves realigning funds within the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF) rather than adding a new allocation.
Suansing said the adjustment was requested by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian because replenishing the QRF takes time when the fund reaches the current threshold.
“Because ano po, the replenishment takes so long, because right now, if it’s just at the 1.25 billion peso level, when they hit 50%, maghihintay pa po sila ng several weeks to several months for it to be replenished,” Suansing said.
P870.5-M RECOMMENDED INCREASE FOR DSWD SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD PROGRAM
BARSc also recommended an additional P870.5 million for the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
The motion to increase the SLP allocation was seconded by lawmakers during the budget deliberations, with members highlighting the program’s role in providing livelihood opportunities to small entrepreneurs and Filipinos who have limited access to traditional financing.
P20-M FOR DSWD LGBTQIA+ SPECIAL COMMITTEE
The subpanel also recommended an additional P20 million for the DSWD Special Committee on LGBTQA+, which had no dedicated allocation under the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program.
The additional funding would allow the newly established special committee to implement its planned programs.
P100-M ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR WATER UTILITIES
Earlier in the proceedings, the panel recommended an additional P100 million for the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA).
Deputy Speaker Rep. Janette Garin cited the anticipated impact of El Niño and said LWUA’s current NEP allocation of around P29.55 million was insufficient.
“With the constant, uh, very unstable fuel prices, uh, being encountered and with the Middle East crisis and the Ukraine-Russia war, uh, this representation is, uh, does agree with, uh, Secretary Giovanni Lopez to give, uh, the proposal of, uh, 500 million pesos for the service contracting program,” the lawmaker said in the earlier budget discussion.
For LWUA, Garin said the additional P100 million would support areas experiencing water-related problems.
The motion for the P100-million increase was subsequently approved.
The BARSc's proposed amendments to the house bill on the 2027 national budget will be up for consideration by the House Committee on Appropriations and the House Plenary.