Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) is not pork barrel and neither are barangay officials responsible for the list of AKAP beneficiaries, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Friday (December 27).

“Let me reiterate that all the DSWD’s Field Offices across the country serve people in need, whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit (LGU) officials. DSWD social workers process applications for AKAP and they determine the amount of aid to qualified beneficiaries,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief made the clarification in reply to the December 26 statement of Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio claiming that the cash assistance under AKAP “resembles the controversial pork barrel” and that “barangay officials submit the list of beneficiaries.”

The DSWD chief maintained that nowhere in the AKAP guidelines are barangay officials empowered to make the list of beneficiaries who will receive the cash assistance from the agency.

“With due respect to the former Supreme Court Justice, AKAP is not pork barrel since any good Samaritan can refer potential beneficiaries and the barangay has nothing to do with AKAP based on our existing guidelines,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.

The DSWD chief explained that legislators and local officials can refer potential aid recipients but the agency’s social workers are the ones responsible for the vetting of the beneficiaries to make sure that they are eligible based on the AKAP guidelines.

“The original intention of the AKAP program is to protect the minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos from the effects of inflation that erode their buying power. It is intended to provide a menu of assistance for goods and services that are affected by high inflation depending on the needs of the individuals,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The General Appropriations Act of 2024, specifically the Special Provision No. 3 of the DSWD Budget, authorized the funding for AKAP amounting to Php26.7 billion which will serve as financial assistance to minimum wage earners falling under the category of low income that were severely affected by the rising inflation.

Almost 5 million ‘near poor’ Filipinos have benefitted from the AKAP during its first year of implementation from January to December 26 of this year.#

 

Tagalog Version

AKAP hindi pork barrel; beneficiaries dumadaan sa lente ng social workers – DSWD chief

Binigyang diin ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian na hindi pork barrel ang Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), at hindi responsibilidad ng barangay officials ang listahan ng mga benepisyaryo ng programa.

“Let me reiterate that all the DSWD’s Field Offices across the country serve people in need, whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit (LGU) officials. DSWD social workers process applications for AKAP and they determine the amount of aid to qualified beneficiaries,” paglilinaw ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Ang pahayag ng DSWD chief ay tugon sa December 26 statement ni Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio kung saan sinabi nito na ang cash assistance sa ilalim ng AKAP ay kahalintulad sa pork barrel at ang mga barangay officials umano ang nagsusumite ng listahan ng beneficiaries nito.

Ayon sa DSWD chief, walang nakasaad sa AKAP guidelines na may kapangyarihan ang mga barangay officials na humawak ng list of beneficiaries na makakatanggap ng cash assistance mula sa ahensya.

“With due respect to the former Supreme Court Justice, AKAP is not pork barrel since any good Samaritan can refer potential beneficiaries and the barangay has nothing to do with AKAP based on our existing guidelines,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Pinaliwanag pa ng Kalihim na maaaring mag-refer ang mga mambabatas at mga local officials ng potential aid recipients subalit ito ay dadaan pa rin sa assessment at verification ng mga social workers upang matiyak ang eligibility ng mga beneficiaries ng programa base na rin sa AKAP guidelines.

“The original intention of the AKAP program is to protect the minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos from the effects of inflation that erode their buying power. It is intended to provide a menu of assistance for goods and services that are affected by high inflation depending on the needs of the individuals,” saad pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.

Nakasaad sa General Appropriations Act of 2024, partikular ang Special Provision No. 3 ng DSWD Budget na ino-authorized ang funding ng AKAP na nagkakahalaga ng Php26.7 billion bilang financial assistance para sa mga minimum wage earners na nasa category ng low income at apektado ng pagtaas ng bilihin o inflation.

Umabot sa halos 5 million ‘near poor’ Filipinos ang nagbenepisyo mula sa AKAP mula ng simulan ang programa noong January hanggang December 26 ngayong taon.# (MVC)