Local officials and recipients of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) (Speaker’s Office)

The Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the flagship welfare program of the Marcos administration, granted over P139 million in financial aid to nearly 30,000 beneficiaries in Davao City, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte.

The AKAP payout, headed by the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez in coordination with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and local officials, was conducted from Oct. 18 to 21.

In a statement, Romualdez says this initiative is a testament to the administration's commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Davaoeños.

"Malasakit at pagmamahal ni Pangulong Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. ang siyang nagtutulak sa amin para tiyaking ang bawat Pilipino, lalo na ang mga taga-Davao, ay hindi napapabayaan. Patuloy po kaming magtatrabaho upang masiguro na nasa mabuting kalagayan ang inyong kabuhayan," he said.

(The care and love of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is what drives us to make sure that every Filipino, especially the people of Davao, are not neglected. We will continue to work to ensure that your livelihood is in good condition.)

Overseen by the DSWD, the AKAP program aims to protect minimum wage earners from the effects of inflation, which often erode their buying power.

According to Deputy Secretary General Sofonias “Ponyong” Gabonada, the four-day payout is proof of the Marcos administration's focus on providing timely assistance to marginalized sectors.

Gabonada said the program’s payout kicked off on Friday in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, where beneficiaries included teachers, non-teaching school personnel, mall employees, and other low-income residents.

This was followed by events in Davao del Norte over the weekened. The culmination in Davao City on Monday was led by former Civil Service Commission (CSC) chairperson Karlo Nograles.

Nograles, who served as the local coordinator in the distribution, facilitated the release of P14.5 million in aid to 4,859 beneficiaries in Davao City.

For his part, Romualdez credited the success of the AKAP payout in Davao region to the close collaboration between the national government and local officials.

In Davao City, in particular, Nograles worked closely with the Speaker to ensure that the aid reached the intended beneficiaries.

"Napakahalaga ng suporta ng mga lokal na lider tulad ni Atty. Karlo Nograles upang maging matagumpay ang mga ganitong proyekto," noted Romualdez.

(The support of local leaders like Atty. Karlo Nograles is essential to make such projects successful.)

Meanwhile, the House chief has assured that the government will continue to expand its effort in bringing financial aid and other forms of assistance to ensure the recovery and development of local communities.

"Patuloy kaming maghahatid ng tulong sa mga komunidad na higit na nangangailangan, lalo na sa mga probinsya ng Davao,” said Romualdez.

(We will continue to deliver aid to communities that are most in need, especially in the provinces of Davao.)