The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo issued Memorandum Circular No. 9 (MC 9) titled ‘Supplemental Guidelines on the Implementation of Protective Services Program” (PSP) and circulated to all Field Offices for implementation.

The said  MC 9 sought  to attain the following objectives, namely:

1. To guide the DSWD Field Offices (FOs) nationwide in the implementation of the PSP, particularly their treatment of referral letters from individuals, groups of individuals, or organization, including public officials whether national or local executives, legislators, members of the judiciary, or constitutional commission; o ensure adherence to the decision of the Supreme Court which declared the PDAF unconstitutional and the Commission on Audit Memorandum;
2. To enhance the DSWD’s performance of its mandate as the government’s frontline agency in social protection; To uphold the dignity of DSWD social workers and personnel involved in the implementation of the PSP, as well as ensure their physical safety; and
3. To promote the fair and equitable implementation of the PSP. In the MC9, it is clarified once and for all that referral letters from individuals, groups of individuals, or organization, including public officials whether national or local executives, legislators, members of the judiciary, or constitutional commission are not integral to the implementation of the PSP. While the referral letters may be considered, they are not binding on DSWD social workers or personnel tasked to evaluate the qualifications of beneficiaries  and the DSWD retains sole authority to determine the beneficiaries of the program pursuant to existing guidelines. As such, DSWD social workers or personnel tasked to evaluate the qualification of beneficiaries are enjoined to strictly adhere to MC9 and to existing circulars prescribing guidelines for the implementation of the PSP.

DSWD through its Protective Services Program, offers various types of assistance to those in need which include the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

Under AICS, the DSWD provides medical, educational, burial and transportation assistance to persons/families in crisis situations, specifically those belonging to the informal sector and other poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged individuals. ### By: Gela Flor R. Perez, Regional Information Officer II