Manila, Jan. 15 -- A total of 483,297 individuals in the Caraga Region received assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) leading programs in 2025.

In a statement on Thursday, the DSWD-13 said PHP2.4 billion in aid had been released to its beneficiaries under the programs.

In the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program alone, the agency assisted some 380,625 clients last year, with releases totaling PHP1.93 billion.

"The assistance addressed various urgent needs, including medical, funeral, transportation, food, and cash relief support," the DSWD-13 said.

It added that the number of beneficiaries served totaled 256.21 percent of the agency's 148,557 annual target last year.

Unde...