Ex-lawmaker urges suspension of AKAP during campaign period

January 10, 2025 , 05:15 PM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

(January 10, 2026) – A former lawmaker on Friday called for the suspension of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) throughout the election campaign period.

In a statement, former Bayan Muna representative Teddy Casiño branded the program as a “pork barrel insertion” crafted for political agendas.

“The spending ban of public funds was put in place to equalize the playing field for all candidates, especially incumbent officials and candidates favored by the sitting administration. More importantly, it is a means to shield government funds from partisan politics,” said Casiño, who is also the party-list chairman.

On Wednesday, the Commission on Elections exempted 28 programs, including the controversial AKAP, from the 45-day ban on public fund use before the midterm elections in May. The campaign period for national candidates will start from February 11 to May 10.

AKAP, a project backed by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, became controversial after it was given a budget of P26.7 billion for next year while the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. was given zero subsidy, and the Department of Education saw its budget get cut by P12 billion.

Critics, including retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio, compared it to pork barrel, as barangay officials were tasked with submitting beneficiary lists.

Casiño stressed that the P26 billion allocated for AKAP risks being misused for political purposes, particularly as its implementation guidelines remain vague.

“Malinaw noong 2023 na ginamit ang ayuda para sa pakanang people’s initiative sa charter change. Mula 2024 ay pinapamudmod naman ang AKAP sa mga constituents ng mga senador at congressmen,” he added.

Malacañang and DSWD already vowed to implement stricter guidelines and additional vetting procedures. Casiño, however, remains skeptical.

“Legislators will still tell the DSWD to download the funds to their preferred LGUs or government agencies that will draw up the list of beneficiaries in coordination with their offices. And upon payout day, nobody can stop the politicians from making sure everyone is reminded who to thank for the dole out,” stressed Casiño.

AKAP provides P5,000 in cash assistance to families earning below the poverty threshold who are not receiving aid from other government programs.

According to the DSWD, nearly five million Filipinos classified as “near poor” received financial assistance under AKAP in last year.

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