The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga has partnered with eight branches of Mercury Drug Corporation across the region to enhance access to medicines for individuals facing crisis situations, through the Department’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

This regional effort forms part of a nationwide partnership between DSWD and Mercury Drug, formalized through a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that is currently awaiting notarization. Once in effect, the partnership will authorize selected Mercury Drug branches to accept Guarantee Letters issued by the Department as payment for prescribed medicines.

In Caraga, the eight participating Mercury Drug branches are strategically located in four provinces:

Agusan del Norte: Montilla Boulevard and A.D. Curato branches in Butuan City

Agusan del Sur: National Highway, Purok 1, Barangay 4 in San Francisco

Surigao del Sur: Abarca Street, Barangay Mangagoy in Bislig City and National Road, Barrio Poblacion in Tandag City

Surigao del Norte: Burgos Cor. San Nicolas Streets, Brgy. Washington (mainland) and Siargao Town Center in Dapa (Siargao Island)

Currently, no participating branch has been identified in the Province of Dinagat Islands, as Mercury Drug has no outlets operating in the area.

To ensure seamless implementation of the partnership, the DSWD Caraga Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), headed by Ana T. Semacio, conducted site visits and orientations from May 22 to 24 to all identified branches. These sessions provided an overview of the AICS medical assistance process, documentation requirements, and guidelines for dispensing medicines through Guarantee Letters and the accompanying Medicine Calculators.

“This partnership has been long-awaited and is a significant step forward in providing more accessible and timely medical support to Caraganons in need,” said Semacio.

The orientation also included a briefing by CIS focal person Loraine R. Cagula, RN, who walked the partner branches through the billing procedures. She emphasized the importance of submitting complete and timely documentation, including original Guarantee Letters, receipts, and Statements of Account, to facilitate prompt payment processing by the Department.

The AICS program is one of the DSWD’s core social protection services. It provides financial aid for medical, funeral, transportation, food, and other emergency needs. Depending on social workers’ assessments, it may also include material assistance, psychosocial support, and referrals.

In addition, the Department also implements AKAP (Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program), a targeted intervention that provides direct financial support to individuals affected by inflation whose income falls below the minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB).

This initiative is expected to strengthen DSWD Caraga’s response capacity and significantly improve the efficiency and reach of medical assistance delivery to vulnerable individuals and families across the region.