Manila, May 30 -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Caraga Region (DSWD-13) has forged a partnership with eight branches of Mercury Drug through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Friday, aimed at enhancing access to medicines for individuals facing crises.

In a statement on Friday, the DSWD-13 announced that under this new collaboration, the identified Mercury Drug branches across the region will accept guarantee letters issued by the DSWD as payment for prescribed medicines for beneficiaries under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

The participating Mercury Drug branches in the region include the Montilla Boulevard and A.D. Curato branches in Butuan City; the National Highway, Purok...