The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has cautioned the public to be vigilant and to refrain from engaging with TikTok and other social media accounts that promise educational assistance from the agency.
“Once again, we advise the public not to engage with social media content that are not issued from the official social media accounts of the DSWD. These pages and groups contain fake information that aims to mislead the public or, even worse, gather personal information which can be used by online scammers to perform theft,” the department’s assistant secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said.
Dumlao maintained clients must undergo interviews and assessments to avail of the agency’s financial aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
“The financial assistance is extended only through the agency’s Crisis Intervention Unit/Section (CIU/CIS) located at the Central Office and in all DSWD Field Offices nationwide,” Dumlao pointed out.
The AICS program is one of the DSWD’s frontline services that provide a wide range of services, including cash assistance for food, transportation, medical services, funeral expenses, and other essential needs of those who are in crisis and are found eligible as assessed by the attending social worker.