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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Rex Gatchalian asks House for help as 7M beneficiaries set to lose 'ayuda' in 2026

Rex Gatchalian asks House for help as 7M beneficiaries set to lose 'ayuda' in 2026

Published Sep 11, 2025 11:37 am

At A Glance

  • Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian is appealing to the House of Representatives to consider augmenting the budget for protective services, which covers two prominent "ayuda (aid)" programs.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (Facebook)
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (Facebook)


Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian is appealing to the House of Representatives to consider augmenting the budget for protective services, which covers two prominent "ayuda (aid)" programs.
This, as Gatchalian revealed to the Committee on Appropriations during the agency's budget hearing Wednesday, Sept. 11 that DSWD would have to drop an estimated seven million beneficiaries from these programs due to the P50-billion reduction on protective services funds.
During the budget hearing, Gatchalian confirmed the reduction of funds for the Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), as well as the non-funding of its sister program, Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), under the P6.793-trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026.
“So sana ho ma-reconsider ng ating mababang kapulungan yung dilemma ng departamento na may mahigit seven million Pilipino, pamilyang Pilipino na maaaring hindi matulungan kung hindi natin ire-restrore o dagdagan ang probisyon para sa AICS,” the DSWD chief said.
(I hope the lower chamber can reconsider the department's dilemma that over seven million Filipinos, Filipino families won't be given assistance if we don't restore or augment the provision for AICS.)
“Dahil mawawala po yung AKAP, dati nandun sa protective services yun malaking kawalan ho yun. And then the budget for AICS also nabawasan din ho (AKAP, which used to be under protective services, is a huge loss now that it has been unfunded. And then the budget for AICS was also slashed). So put together, we’re looking at close to around P50 billion worth of reductions,” noted Gatchalian.
Interpellating Gatchalian at that time was Negros Occidental 6th district Rep. Mercedes Alvarez, who asked about the budget for protective services.
Under the current 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or enacted budget, AICS had a P44.44-billion funding, while P26.1 billion was allocated to AKAP.
“For 2026, because of the reduced AICS budget, the target has been reduced from around six million to around 3.6 million," Gatchalian said.
"So ang ma-a-underserve natin for next year (So the people who will be underserved for next year), projected, if the NEP is to be followed for AICS alone, 2,978,543 individuals are in danger of losing their AICS social welfare. So pag may kailangan sila, itong numero na to ang madi-displaced (So this number will be displaced, even if they are in need),” he said.
And then there's total de-funding of AKAP, which is labelled a government aid program for the middle class.
“Now, because AKAP was deleted from the NEP, we’re looking at another four million clients nationwide sa kasalukuyan ay natutulungan ng programa pero mawawala na rin ho (who are currently being assisted by the program, but will lose their assistsnce soon),” Gatchalian said.
“So we are looking at around seven million individuals who may not be able to receive social welfare in their crisis situation," he added.
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