Tinio: Pondo para sa AICS, lumobo ng 9,060% sa loob ng isang dekada; “Ayuda Nation” na nakatali sa patronage, binatikos
ACT Teachers Representative and Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio today exposed a staggering 9,060% increase in the budget for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) from 2016 to 2026. While the fund for this ayuda program ballooned, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP)—designed to foster economic independence—suffered a massive 45% decrease over the same period.
During his interpellation of the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Tinio highlighted the alarming trajectory of the funds allocated for AICS, as well as other ayuda programs.
“I want to point out. Yung AICS noong 2016, ito po ay P700 million lamang. Pero by 2026, it became P63.9 billion. That’s a 9,060% increase. Nakakagimbal na rate of increase,” Tinio said. “Unang lumaki ang pondo noong 2021 noong kasagsagan ng pandemya. Pero, kapansin-pansin ang higit na paglobo nito sa ilalim ng administrasyong Marcos. Idagdag pa rito ang AKAP na nilaanan ng mahigit P26 bilyon noong 2024 at 2025.”
Tinio questioned the national government policy of transforming the Philippines into an “Ayuda Nation,” where the poor are kept on a leash of political patronage rather than being empowered to rise above poverty.
“Malinaw ang disensyo ng polisiyang ito ng gobyerno: paasahin ang mahihirap sa ayuda dahil nagsisilbi iyon sa patronage politics,” giit ni Tinio. “Pinahina nang husto ang Sustainable Livelihood Program—ang programan ng DSWD na naglalayong bigyan ng kabuhayan ang mahihirap—upang bigyang-daan ang mga pondong madaling gamitin ng mga pulitiko.”
From P73 billion in 2016, the total budget allocated for ayuda programs under the DSWD was increased to P139 billion in 2026 (152% increase). This includes the following: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program, and Liwanag at Tubig Assistance Welfare (LITAW).
“Imbis na puro ayuda, dapat pondohan at gawing prayoridad ang pagpapalakas ng sektor ng agrikultura at manupaktura para makalikha ng maraming disenteng trabaho dito sa bansa, pagtataas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa sa antas na nakabubuhay, at pagsiguro na mura ang presyo ng mga bilihin at serbisyo. Huwag gawing ‘Ayuda Nation’ ang Pilipinas,” he concluded.
See interactive charts and data here: Launch the DSWD Ayuda Budget explorer →