MANILA, April 28 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue providing medical and burial assistance to Filipinos who would need these services during the 10-day 'ayuda' ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from May 2 to 12, a senior agency official said Monday.

"While our Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) are among the government aid that have been placed under the 'ayuda' ban, the Comelec has given exemption to our medical and burial aid provisions," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.

The provision of both medical and burial assistance was earlier given exemption from the poll spending ban...