By Bea Rollo
(March 27, 2025) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that financial assistance under the Ayuda sa Kapos at Kita Program (AKAP) will now be limited to individuals earning below the minimum wage.
DSWD secretary Rex Gatchalian said this move aligns with Pres. Bongbong Marcos’ veto message in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), wherein AKAP was given P26 billion, while other government agencies faced budget cuts.
“Dati kasi, ang term na ginamit sa special provision was ‘low income.’ So ngayon, mas defined siya as ‘below minimum wage.’ Mas manipis siya (eligible beneficiaries),” said Gatchalian in a report from the Philippine News Agency.
Under the revised rules, eligibility for AKAP will be determined based on the minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity Boards.
Gatchalian emphasized that AKAP will remain needs-based, with social workers determining the amount of financial aid based on the applicant’s situation.
The DSWD noted that the new guidelines also aim to prevent political interference in distribution, especially amid the campaign period for this year’s elections.
“We will ensure that during the conduct of payouts, there will be no politicians or campaign materials,” said Gatchalian.
AKAP, a pet project of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, has been hounded by controversies, including irregularities in distribution and concerns that it would be used for the campaign programs of candidates allied with Romualdez.
Romualdez is a cousin of Marcos.
AKAP initially received zero allocation from the Senate during the deliberation of the GAA. Its proposal of P26 billion, however, was later retained by the bicameral committee, with the Senate getting control of P5 billion.
Gatchalian added that referrals from government officials would not guarantee approval for applicants for AKAP.
The DSWD said it will publish monthly reports on its website listing the names of beneficiaries by province.
Around 4.2 million Filipinos benefited from AKAP in 2024, according to the DSWD.
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