Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Friday (January 3) there is a need to tighten the guidelines for the implementation of the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program to guarantee the protection of taxpayers’ money.

Secretary Gatchalian told ANC’s Head Start the crafting of the joint AKAP guidelines with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, will help in coming up with “more stringent measures that will pacify the fears of our taxpayers that their money will be used for politics.”

“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,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief said the meeting with the DOLE and NEDA will give more dimensions as to how the program can become not a one-time solution but rather something sustainable that will try to address persistent problems.

“There were initial talks with Secretary Laguesma already which was very fruitful and now we’re going to meet again together with Secretary Balisacan to make sure that One, the targeting is very tight and Two, that we remain faithful to the special provision or to the veto message of the President when it comes to the conditional implementation of the AKAP,” Secretary Gatchalian explained to ANC.

In his keynote speech shortly after signing the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) last December 30, President Marcos required the conditional implementation of AKAP and several programs of the national government, subject to the submission of clear guidelines.

When asked about how the DSWD will safeguard the AKAP funds from being abused or taken advantage of by some politicians, Secretary Gatchalian pointed out that the program is being implemented above board and following the strictest protocols of the DSWD.

“We make sure that every single individual that comes in and avails of it is properly vetted by our social workers. Remember that in all our programs, we normally do a social case wherein the social workers take time to interview, vet, and understand the individual needs of an individual,” the DSWD chief 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,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.

AKAP is a program intended to provide targeted social assistance and safety net for minimum wage and low-income earners who are made vulnerable by rising inflation. (YADP)

 

Tagalog Version

AKAP guidelines, mas pahihigpitin ng DSWD

Mas hihigpitan ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang mga panuntunan o guidelines para sa implementasyon ng Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program upang mapangalagaan at proteksyunan ang pera ng mamamayan.

Ito ang naging pahayag ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa isang panayam sa ANC Head Start kung saan sinabi ng Kalihim na bumabalangkas na ang ahensya kasama ang National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) at Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) ng guidelines para sa AKAP base na rin sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“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,” sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Dagdag pa niya “There were initial talks with Secretary Laguesma already which was very fruitful and now we’re going to meet again together with Secretary Balisacan to make sure that One, the targeting is very tight and Two, that we remain faithful to the special provision or to the veto message of the President when it comes to the conditional implementation of the AKAP.”

Nauna rito, sa keynote speech ng Pangulo matapos ang paglagda sa 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) nitong December 30, sinabi nitong kailangang magkaroon ng klaro o malinaw na guidelines ang implementation ng AKAP at iba pang programa ng national government.

Bilang tugon naman sa tanong kung paano pangangalagaan ng DSWD ang pondo ng AKAP laban sa mapang-abuso, sinabi ng Kalihim na ang programa ay mahigpit na dadaan sa protocols ng DSWD.

“We make sure that every single individual that comes in and avails of it is properly vetted by our social workers. Remember that in all our programs, we normally do a social case wherein the social workers take time to interview, vet, and understand the individual needs of an individual,” sabi pa ng DSWD chief.

“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,” dagdag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.# (MVC)