Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday said he will oppose the funding of programs he considers ill-conceived, including the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), as deliberations on the 2026 national budget continue.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate finance committee, warned that funneling money into poorly designed programs wastes taxpayer resources and undermines social protection for those who need it most.
“We want programs that are well studied, with a feasibility study, so that we know the impact for sure,” he said.
During a recent budget hearing, he questioned the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s request for AKAP funding.
He cited internal data showing beneficiaries were concentrated in areas with relatively lower poverty, while communities with higher poverty incidence received less coverage.
“The sad part is, the program is redundant, the money is wasted, and it even becomes inefficient,” Gatchalian said. He noted that AKAP overlapped with the existing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, creating duplication and draining resources.
Under the 2026 spending plan, AICS funding was cut by 40 percent, or about ₱17.7 billion. Instead of approving money for AKAP, Gatchalian said he would prioritize restoring AICS funding to ensure efficient delivery of aid.
