Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) – President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order institutionalizing a system that will accelerate and harmonize the distribution of aid and humanitarian operations during disasters and emergencies.
Executive Order No. 137 institutionalizes the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program for an “enhanced and unified delivery of social amelioration services.”
The component programs of AHON, which will be implemented by various government agencies, include:
– Food and non-food relief items
– Livelihood assistance and/or interventions
– Educational assistance
– Burial assistance
– Employment assistance
– Transportation assistance
– Medical and health assistance
– Direct financial assistance
– Infrastructure for preparedness and rehabilitation
“The concerned implementing agency shall be responsible for the full implementation of its programs, and shall promulgate rules on the qualifications of beneficiaries which shall not be unduly burdensome and shall be kept at the barest minimum to ensure accessibility and wider coverage,” the EO read.
An AHON Committee shall also be created. It will be chaired by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development as vice-chair. Members of the committee include the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.
The committee shall ensure the efficient and coordinated provision of immediate, adequate, and appropriate aid and humanitarian support to the most affected and vulnerable sectors during emergencies or aftermath of disasters.
It is also tasked to harmonize the types of suitable aid and humanitarian assistance provided by various national government agencies to guarantee efficient use of budget.
Moreover, the committee shall establish and maintain a unified Convergence Information System containing the database of verified individuals, families, communities, and local government units which have benefitted from the AHON Convergence Program, subject to the provisions of the Data Privacy Act of 2012.
As to the funding of the committee, initial requirements shall be charged against the current appropriations of the implementing agencies and from other sources to be identified by the Department of Budget and Management.
