Speaker Martin Romualdez on Thursday pledged the House of Representatives’ full support to secure the funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in the 2025 budget.
“AKAP is not just a safety net; it is a lifeline for millions of Filipino families teetering on the edge of poverty,” Romualdez said, highlighting the program’s impact on more than 4 million “near poor” Filipinos nationwide.
“This initiative has proven its value by providing immediate relief to struggling households, empowering them to weather economic challenges, and ensuring their resilience against inflation and other shocks,” he emphasized.
The program, conceptualized under the leadership of Romualdez, has been instrumental in supporting working families with insufficient income.
It provides one-time cash assistance of P3,000 to P5,000 to qualified beneficiaries whose incomes fall below the poverty threshold and who are not covered by other government aid programs.
Romualdez noted that AKAP’s impact is evident in its extensive reach, with P20.7 billion of the P26.7 billion allocation already utilized, benefiting millions across all regions, including over 589,000 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone.
Regions like Central Luzon, Bicol, and Western Visayas have also achieved significant fund utilization rates exceeding 70 percent.
“Programs like AKAP demonstrate what effective government intervention looks like. It stabilizes households, strengthens communities, and contributes to the country’s overall economic resilience. Cutting its funding would be a disservice to the millions who rely on this vital assistance,” according to the Speaker.
Romualdez called on the Senate to reconsider proposals to defund AKAP, echoing DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s appeal to protect the program in the 2025 budget.
“We stand with Secretary Gatchalian in urging our colleagues in the Senate to uphold the AKAP budget. This is about ensuring that no Filipino family falls back into poverty because of insufficient support. The House of Representatives is ready to champion this cause in the bicameral discussions, if necessary,” Romualdez stated.
The Speaker also emphasized the broader economic benefits of the program, noting that supporting working families helps sustain consumer spending and economic growth.
“The AKAP initiative reflects our collective vision of a more inclusive and compassionate governance model. It is the kind of program that builds trust in government by directly addressing the needs of ordinary Filipinos,” he said.
The House leadership remains committed to prioritizing programs like AKAP that uplift the lives of vulnerable Filipinos while contributing to national development.
As budget deliberations progress, Romualdez assured the public that the House will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the program’s continuation.
“We will fight for AKAP because it fights for the Filipino people. This program is a testament to what good governance can achieve, and we will not allow its gains to be rolled back,” he stressed.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Romualdez vows to fight for AKAP budget, cites 4 million Pinoy beneficiaries”
