Manila, Oct. 14 -- Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Tuesday announced the release of an additional PHP5 billion to fund the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

The fresh allocation, expected to benefit over 411,000 vulnerable Filipinos from October through year-end, will plug funding gaps under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Protective Services Program, according to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The approved allotment and corresponding Notice of Cash Allocation are chargeable against the 2025 General Appropriations Act.

Pangandaman said the AICS funding boost is a proof that unprogrammed appropriations (UAs) are "fiscal buffers" and "not secret or discretionar...