A lawmaker has defended the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) amid claims that it may be used for political purposes in the upcoming 2025 elections.
House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur emphasized that AKAP is designed to directly assist struggling Filipino families and recognizes the contributions of low-income earners to the economy.
“AKAP addresses income challenges faced by struggling families, providing direct financial support to those in need,” Adiong said during a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview. Beneficiaries of the program can receive financial aid ranging from ₱2,000 to ₱10,000 for a period of three months, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The program has drawn criticism following allegations from Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who claimed the increased budgets for AKAP and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) programs might be politicized. Vice President Sara Duterte also suggested last month that such initiatives could be exploited to “buy votes.”
In response, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian clarified that the ₱26 billion allocated for AKAP is exclusively managed and implemented by the DSWD. “This is not a pork barrel or a fund for politicians. It is entirely under the DSWD’s management,” he stressed.
Gatchalian also assured that lawmakers have no role in the fund’s release or distribution and cannot attend aid-giving events. Social workers, he added, will independently determine beneficiaries based on established criteria.
The Supreme Court declared pork barrel funds unconstitutional in 2013, citing lawmakers’ influence over project implementation. To avoid similar controversies, Gatchalian said the DSWD would seek exemptions from the Commission on Elections to continue the program during the election period.
Despite the assurances, Senator Imee Marcos has argued that the AKAP allocation is not aligned with the administration’s priorities.
