Lawmakers defended the allocation of P26 billion for the Ayuda Para sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP) in the 2025 national budget and dismissed claims that the program is being used as a political tool.
House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Representative Jayjay Suarez, quoted by ABS-CBN News, rejected criticisms, citing data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
He explained that AKAP targets the “near-poor” sector—families on the brink of poverty due to unexpected crises like illness or economic shifts.
“Why treat AKAP as something malicious? When families face problems, they often slip into poverty,” Suarez said.
The lawmaker also emphasized that government aid has historically focused on the “poorest of the poor,” leaving the near-poor sector vulnerable.
House Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Representative Jude Acidre echoed Suarez, defending AKAP as a means to bolster the purchasing power of working citizens.
“Pinakamalaki ang benefits ng estado kung tinutulungan natin ang productive citizens,” Acidre explained. He also stressed that supporting workers contributes to economic growth.
He compared AKAP to the financial aid program in Thailand, where citizens receive cash assistance to stimulate the economy.
House Appropriations Committee Vice Chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Representative Raul Bongalon assured the public that lawmakers had no direct influence over AKAP distribution.
He cited the 2013 Supreme Court decision on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), which prohibits discretionary spending by legislators.
“DSWD is the sole implementor of AKAP. The list of beneficiaries is evaluated by social workers. We don’t have a say on how they will implement it. In fact, AKAP won’t be given to beneficiaries unless they are verified by a registered social worker of the DSWD,” Bongalon said.
He clarified that lawmakers merely inform the DSWD of areas needing social assistance programs, with no control over beneficiary selection.
Opposition lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc earlier criticized AKAP, calling it a “political tool” designed to enable vote-buying disguised as financial aid.
Makabayan argued that funds allocated to AKAP should be realigned to social services free from political intervention, ABS-CBN News further reported.
