The government will tighten the guidelines for the implementation of the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) to ensure it is not politicized, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
“I am meeting with NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan and Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma of DOLE because the three of us were assigned to come up with joint guidelines as required by the conditional implementation of AKAP,” Gatchalian said.
He said the crafting of the joint guidelines will help the government come up with “more stringent measures that will pacify the fears of our taxpayers that their money will be used for politics.”
“(We will) make sure that, one, the targeting is very tight and, two, that we remain faithful to the special provision or the veto message of the President when it comes to the conditional implementation of the AKAP,” Gatchalian said.
“We’re going to make sure that only those who are below minimum wage earners will be given AKAP or financial assistance as part of this program,” he added.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in approving the 2025 national budget last month, imposed conditions for the implementation of AKAP to ensure funds are used strategically.
AKAP will now be implemented in coordination with the DSWD, DOLE and NEDA.
“This way we ensure that its implementation will be strategic, leading to the long-term improvement of the lives of qualified beneficiaries, while guarding against misuse, duplication, and fragmented benefits,” President Marcos said.
“This approach is anchored on a simple yet profound truth: the appropriation of public funds must not break the public trust,” he added.
Almost five million near-poor Filipinos have benefitted from AKAP during its first year of implementation from January to December 2024.
“The AKAP program has demonstrated strong impact with P26.157 billion in funds, or 99.31 percent utilization rate, from the total P26.7 billion budget allocation for 2024,” DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.
AKAP provides cash assistance of P5,000 to eligible beneficiaries. To qualify, families must have an income that falls below the poverty threshold and must not be receiving assistance from other government programs.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “DSWD seeks to tighten AKAP guidelines.”
