Over 53,000 low-income and minimum-wage earners employed at the four major malls in Metro Manila received cash assistance through the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office-National Capital Region (NCR).
The DSWD-NCR distributed the AKAP financial aid at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North, SM Megamall, and SM Fairview on Tuesday (November 12).
“Through our AKAP, we are providing a safety net to low-income to minimum wage earners that are severely affected by inflation, as well as the consecutive weather disturbances we experienced in the past weeks,” DSWD Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency’s spokesperson, said.
Each beneficiary received Php5,000 to help with their expenses as they face economic challenges amid the rising cost of commodities.
The AKAP beneficiaries were mall workers including security guards, sales people, and housekeepers as well as mall tenants’ employees.
“In SM MOA, approximately 17,000 employees received cash assistance from the DSWD. Another 13,632 beneficiaries from SM North, 12,789 from SM Megamall, and 10,528 from SM Fairview got the same amount,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Christine Joy Mila, a security guard in SM MOA, thanked the DSWD after receiving the cash assistance.
“Ako po ay isang security guard dito sa MOA at ang duty ko po ay 10 nang umaga hanggang 10 nang gabi. Twelve hours po kaming nagtatrabaho nang nakatayo at bihirang makaupo…Thank you po DSWD dahil napili nyo kaming mga security guard na bigyan ng tulong pinansyal,” Christine Joy said during the cash payout in SM MOA.
The security guard said she would use the Php5,000 to sustain their family’s ‘carinderia.’
Jerman Dignos, a housekeeping staff member, said he would send the cash assistance he received to his family in the province.
“Malaki po ang pasasalamat ko sa DSWD. Malaking tulong po ito sa amin, lalo na sa mga kasamahan ko. Lubos po akong nagpapasalamat dahil dumating ang blessing nang hindi po namin inaasahan,” Jerman said.
The AKAP offers financial assistance to minimum wage earners in the low-income category who are heavily impacted by rising inflation. # (YADP)
