AICS bill misses special session passage over 'anti-epal' provision

MANILA, Philippines — A bill institutionalizing the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program was not passed during Congress's special sessions on Wednesday, June 17, after the House of Representatives disagreed with the measure's "anti-epal" provision, Sen. Erwin Tulfo said.

In an interview, Tulfo said third-reading approval of the AICS bill was delayed because of disagreement over a clause barring politicians from taking part in the distribution of cash aid. The bill is among the priority measures that were up for resolution.

"Eh kasi hindi nila magagamit for election, wala na sila 'don eh," Tulfo said, after delivering fiery remarks on the lower chamber's failure at the Senate plenary session's closing. (Well, it is because they cannot use it for the election anymore. They are no longer there.)

At the Senate plenary, Tulfo said the upper and lower chambers are on a deadlock, as his House counterparts refused to sign the proposed measure.

"Pag-aaralan daw po nila doon. Hindi ko po maintindihan kung ano ang pag-aaralan pa. The section (17) clearly specifies na bawal po ang isang politiko na mamigay ng ayuda na galing din sa DSWD din mismo, kaya 'yon po ang pinagtatalunan namin," Tulfo said.

(They said they will study it. I don't understand what else they want to study. The section clearly specifies that it's prohibited for a politician to give away aid coming from the DSWD itself, so that's what we're in disagreement over.) 

Despite the stalled AICS bill, the House claimed in a statement that it had passed "all priority measures" that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has laid out when he called for the special session.

Tulfo, a former secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, was referring to a provision that would prohibit elective officials, electoral candidates, politicians, political parties or their representatives from influencing, attending or participating in the actual distribution of cash assistance and other forms of aid under the proposed law.

The bill provides an exception for officials with direct administrative and executive authority over the DSWD.

Next steps 

Since it failed to clear the parallel special sessions on Wednesday, Tulfo said the AICS bill would have to go through the bicameral conference committee to resolve differences between the Senate and House versions.

He said the measure would be tackled at the bicam after President Marcos's State of the Nation Address in July.

Marcos had included the AICS bill among the priority measures he asked Congress to pass during the special session he ordered.

What is AICS?

AICS is a DSWD program that aims to provides aid to individuals and families in crisis. The DSWD describes it as a stop-gap measure that provides financial, emotional and psychosocial support to people facing crises or unexpected life events.

The program may cover food, transportation, medical, educational and burial assistance, according to the DSWD.

The program has drawn concerns that cash aid can be used for political credit-claiming or influence. Tulfo has pushed for "anti-epal" restrictions to keep politicians from appearing at or participating in aid distribution.

In January, Tulfo urged the DSWD to strictly enforce an "anti-epal" provision in the 2026 national budget to prevent government aid from being used for political campaigning. He also filed a separate Anti-Epal Act in February.

The DSWD has also repeatedly warned against irregularities in AICS distribution, including cases where local officials or other individuals allegedly took a cut from beneficiaries' cash aid.