House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

House of Representatives members are urging senators to take a close look at the merits of the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) before deciding on its funding.

This, as Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Party-list; Assistant Majority Leaders Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur, Jil Bongalon of Ako Bicol Party-list; and Rep. Lordan Suan of Cagayan de Oro all expressed reservations on the decision of the Senate Finance Committee to remove the AKAP funds in the P6.352-trillion 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Acidre called on the Senate to look at the concrete results of AKAP, which had been described as a social intervention program for the middle class.

“Kita ho natin na ‘yung kaunting halaga eh malaking ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan lalung-lalo na ‘yung mga nasa sakto lang ‘yung kinikita...Sana tingnan ng Senado ang programa sa sariling merits kasi sayang naman,” he said.

(We see that even a modest amount goes a long way in helping our countrymen who earn just enough for their needs...I hope the Senate will look at the merits of the program because it will be a waste.)

Adiong echoed Acidre’s sentiments, and underscored that AKAP embodies the goals of the "Bagong Pilipinas" initiative to bring government services closer to the people. 

“For the past several months na nagkaroon tayo ng Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, nakita natin ‘yung magandang resulta at benefits na nabibigay nito. AKAP is one of the main services na dire-diretso po naibibigay sa ating mga indigent and qualified beneficiaries,” Adiong explained.

(For the past several months that we've had Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fairs, we witnessed the good results and benefits of the program. AKAP is one of the main services that we directly give to indigents and qualified beneficiaries.)

Bongalon, who represents a region frequently hit by natural disasters, highlighted how AKAP supports those just above the poverty line, who often receive little to no aid in times of crisis. 

“If we have a program for the poorest of the poor which is the 4Ps, we should also have programs for minimum wage earners. Sa amin sa Bicol Region, malaking bagay ‘yung financial assistance na natanggap nila bago ang bagyong Kristine. Hindi sila basta-basta na lamang magdedepende sa mga relief operations,” Bongalon stated.

(For us in the Bicol Region, the financial assistance that the locals received before typhoon Kristene was a big deal. They won't have to depend on relief operations.)

Suan says that aid under AKAP isn't just given to random people. 

“Iyong AKAP kasi hindi naman siya whimsical or arbitrary. Based on data siya, at ang mga binibigyan ay low-income earners,” he said.

(AKAP is neither whimsical or arbitrary. It is data-driven and targets low-income earners.)

Adiong further pointed out that in regions with high poverty rates, AKAP serves as a vital lifeline. 

“Coming from one of the poorest regions...nakakatulong po iyan sa aming mga constituents. Kami ni Cong. Lordan Suan from Mindanao ay may mga communities na may conflict-affected areas. AKAP does exactly that,” Adiong said.

(That helps out our constituents. Cong. Lordan Suan and I are from Mindanao, which has communities that are conflict-affected areas.)

Bongalon stressed the need for the Senate to consider the real-world impact of AKAP, particularly in disaster-prone areas like Bicol. 

“Malaking tulong po ito sa ating mga kababayan (It is a big help to our countrymen),” he noted.

The Senate is currently reviewing its version of the 2025 GAB or national budget. The House already approved its version of the annual outlay on third and final reading last Sept. 25.