Speaker vows to fight for AKAP funding
Credit to Author: Jose Rodel Clapano| Date: Fri, 22 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0800
MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Martin Romualdez vowed yesterday to fight and secure funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in the 2025 budget, highlighting the program’s impact on more than four million “near poor” Filipinos nationwide.
“This initiative has proven its value by providing immediate relief to struggling households, empowering them to weather economic challenges and ensuring their resilience against inflation and other (financial) shocks,” Romualdez told journalists who covered the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Legazpi City, Albay.
“AKAP is not just a safety net. It is a lifeline for millions of Filipino families teetering on the edge of poverty,” he stressed.
Romualdez said the AKAP, conceptualized under his leadership, has been instrumental in supporting working families with insufficient income.
The Speaker highlighted that AKAP’s impact is evident in its extensive reach, with P20.7 billion of the P26.7-billion allocation already utilized, benefiting millions across all regions, including over 539,000 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone.
Regions like Central Luzon, Bicol and Western Visayas have also achieved significant fund utilization rates exceeding 70 percent.
“Programs like AKAP demonstrate what effective government intervention looks like. It stabilizes households, strengthens communities and contributes to the country’s overall economic resilience,” Romualdez said.
He lamented that cutting AKAP’s funding would mean “a disservice to the millions who rely on this vital assistance.”
AKAP provides a one-time cash assistance of P3,000 to P5,000 to qualified beneficiaries whose incomes fall below the poverty threshold and who are not covered by other government aid programs.
Romualdez called on the Senate to reconsider their proposal to defund AKAP, echoing Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s appeal to protect the program in the 2025 budget.
“This (AKAP) is about ensuring that no Filipino family falls back into poverty because of insufficient support. The House of Representatives is ready to champion this cause in the bicameral discussion if necessary,” he stated.
The Senate on Tuesday slashed AKAP’s P39.8 billion allocation as they propose a merger to another similar program of the DSWD, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.
House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan earlier refuted Sen. Grace Poe’s claim that AKAP is not a priority government project, saying that the program is, in fact, backed by President Marcos himself.
“In fact, he signed the 2024 General Appropriations Law, which allocated P26.7 billion for the AKAP,” he said.
The Speaker also emphasized the broader economic benefits of the program, noting that supporting working families helps sustain consumer spending and economic growth.
“The AKAP initiative reflects our collective vision of a more inclusive and compassionate governance model. It is the kind of program that builds the trust in government by directly addressing the needs of ordinary Filipinos,” Romualdez said.
The House leadership remains committed to prioritizing programs like AKAP that uplift the lives of vulnerable Filipinos while contributing to national development.
As budget deliberations progress, Romualdez assured the public that the House will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the program’s continuation.
“We will fight for AKAP because it fights for the Filipino people. This program is a testament to what good governance can achieve and we will not allow its gains to be rolled back,” he said. – Delon Porcalla