Almost 5 million near-poor Filipinos have benefitted from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) during its first year of implementation from January to December 2024.

“The AKAP program has demonstrated strong impact with Php26.157 billion in funds, or 99.31 percent utilization rate, from the total Php26.7 billion budget allocation for 2024,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Thursday (January 2).

The AKAP funds were allocated across the country and almost all regions achieved more than 99 percent in fund obligations, with Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Davao Region (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13) posting 100 percent utilization.

The AKAP provides cash assistance of Php5,000 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.

The menu of assistance under the AKAP include medical, funeral, food, and cash relief which are provided directly through the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) at both the Central and Field Offices and through the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) and Satellite Offices across the country.

With the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2025, around 5 million minimum wage earners and Filipinos living on the poverty threshold are expected to benefit from the DSWD’s AKAP.

In line with the directive of President Marcos, secretaries of the DSWD, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) are scheduled to meet on Friday (January 3) to draw up the guidelines for the AKAP as a condition for its release by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured the public that the AKAP, one of the agency’s social protection programs, will be insulated from politics amid reports that the program’s Php26 billion budget will be used in the 2025 midterm elections.

“The DSWD will not be used by anybody for their political gains not next year, not ever,” Secretary Gatchalian said as he dismissed claims by some quarters that AKAP is allegedly being used for political purposes, including “vote buying.”

Secretary Gatchalian explained that DSWD social workers apply stringent verification and validation process for clients who seek financial assistance, with or without referrals from legislators and local government unit (LGU) officials.

“Our social workers, and not politicians, determine the beneficiaries. DSWD social workers also process the AKAP applications and determine how much the qualified beneficiaries will get,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

Secretary Gatchalian further asserted that the assessment being done by the agency’s licensed social workers is critical to avoid the overlapping of assistance with the other DSWD social protection programs.

The DSWD chief said the agency’s Field Offices actively coordinate and work with LGU officials in payout activities but only for logistical support.

Secretary Gatchalian said the funding for AKAP comes from the agency’s budget as provided under the General Appropriations Act signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr last December 30.

“There is no GAA line item that entitles any congressional district or LGU to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. Referrals from legislators and local executives are entertained pursuant to existing DSWD guidelines,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.#

 

Tagalog Version

5M near-poor Pinoys natulungan ng AKAP ng DSWD nitong 2024

Halos limang milyong near-poor Filipinos ang natulungan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) mula January hanggang December 2024.

“The AKAP program has demonstrated strong impact with Php26.157 billion in funds, or 99.31 percent utilization rate, from the total Php26.7 billion budget allocation for 2024,” sabi ni DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.

Ang AKAP funds ay naka-allocate sa halos lahat ng rehiyon sa bansa kung saan higit sa 99 percent ng fund obligations ay nagamit sa Cagayan Valley (Region 2), Davao Region (Region 11) and Caraga (Region 13).

Ang AKAP ay nagbibigay ng cash assistance na Php5,000 sa mga eligible beneficiaries ng programa na may kita ng mababa sa poverty threshold at nakakatanggap ng tulong mula sa gobyerno.

Kabilang sa mga tulong sa ilalim ng AKAP ay ang medical, funeral, food, at cash relief na ibinibigay ng direkta sa pamamagitan ng Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) ng DSWD sa Central at Field Offices maging sa Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) at Satellite Offices sa bansa.

Dahil na rin sa nilagdaang 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), inaasahang nasa 5 million minimum wage earners at mga mahihirap na Pilipino ang makikinabang sa AKAP program ng DSWD.

Batay na rin sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos, ang DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) at National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) ay nakatakdang bumalangkas ng AKAP guidelines, bilang isa sa mga kondisyon ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Tiniyak naman ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian na ang AKAP, bilang isa sa social protection programs ng ahensya ay hindi magagamit sa pulitika. Ito ay kasunod ng mga ulat na ang Php26 billion budget ng programa ay gagamitin umano para sa 2025 midterm elections.

“The DSWD will not be used by anybody for their political gains not next year, not ever,” paglilinaw ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Nilinaw din ng Kalihim na dumadaan sa masusing pagsisiyasat ng mga social workers ang mga kliyente na nagnanais na makakuha ng tulong pinansyal. May referral man o wala mula sa mga mambabatas at local government unit (LGU) officials.

“Our social workers, and not politicians, determine the beneficiaries. DSWD social workers also process the AKAP applications and determine how much the qualified beneficiaries will get,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Dagdag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian, kinakailangan aniya ang verification at assessment ng mga social workers upang maiwasan na ang pagkakaroon ng overlapping of assistance sa iba pang mga social protection programs ng ahensya.

Ayon pa kay Secretary Gatchalian, ang AKAP funds ay mula sa budget ng ahensya batay sa nakasaad sa General Appropriations Act na nilagdaan ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr nitong December 30.

“There is no GAA line item that entitles any congressional district or LGU to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. Referrals from legislators and local executives are entertained pursuant to existing DSWD guidelines,”paliwanag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.# (MVC)