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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace: AKAP dropped from 2026 budget due to unspent funds

Palace: AKAP dropped from 2026 budget due to unspent funds

Published Aug 14, 2025 02:51 pm

At A Glance

  • Only P13 billion of AKAP's P27-billion allocation for 2025 had been utilized so far.
Malacañang explained that the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) was not given a fresh allocation in the proposed 2026 national budget because nearly half of its 2025 funds remain unused.
(DSWD Photo)
(DSWD Photo)
In a press briefing on Thursday, Aug. 14, Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) found that only P13 billion of AKAP’s P27-billion allocation for 2025 had been utilized so far by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Out of P27 billion allocation for 2025, P13 billion pa lang ang nagagamit ng DSWD. So may natitira pa pong P13 billion na puwede nilang gamitin until 2026 (Out of the P27 billion allocation for 2025, only P13 billion has been used by the DSWD. So there is still P13 billion that they can use until 2026),” she said.
The Palace Press Officer noted that this balance is sufficient to sustain the program into next year without an additional budget allocation.
She also pointed out that the DBM had to review almost P10 trillion worth of proposals from various agencies, forcing the government to prioritize programs with more urgent funding needs.
“So kinakailangan lamang pong i-prioritize ang dapat na ma-prioritize na agency (So we only need to prioritize the agencies that should be prioritized),” Castro said.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman earlier said President Marcos was “hands-on” in crafting the proposed 2026 budget, personally leading budget calls with agencies to ensure alignment with the administration’s priorities.
The AKAP program, launched in 2024, provides P3,000 in one-time cash aid to low-income workers earning just above the minimum wage. It was introduced to help vulnerable households cope with rising costs of living.
The Executive Branch submitted the proposed 2026 national budget on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
In his budget message, President Marcos said the budget is a shift from being infrastructure-heavy to focus on addressing the welfare of the people, which he described as the country’s “greatest treasure.”

Related Tags

President Marcos Bongbong Marcos Claire Castro AKAP 2026 national budget
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