Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co 

House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co has once again defended the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) amid Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong's recent statement wherein he assailed the integrity of congressmen.

In a television interview, Co underscored that AKAP wasn’t a pork barrel since the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) handles the funds and identifies the recipients.

Pork barrel is the term used for solons' discretionary funds that are prone to corruption and misuse.

“Itong AKAP, di yan pork barrel. This is zero percent corruption. Walang corruption [ito] dahil direct sa tao siya. Ang congressman, hindi siya ang humahawak ng pera. It’s DSWD. Ang namimili ng recipients, DSWD. Nagkakaroon yan ng corruption once na hinawakan, katulad ng confidential funds. 

(AKAP is not a pork barrel. This is zero-percent corruption. This has no corruption because it goes directly to the people. The congressman does not handle the money; it’s DSWD. The DSWD chooses the recipients. Corruption happens when the funds are handled, like the confidential funds),” 

AKAP origin story

Co, a former seminarian, even shared the origin story of AKAP. According to him, the initiative was born during a gathering of individuals who once aspired to the priesthood. 

He said minimum-wage earners like food service crew and Grab drivers were complaining about how they cannot avail of government social safety net efforts like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which was meant for the unemployed. 

“They are the ones who work 16 hours. They are the ones who pay for PhilHealth. They are the ones who pay taxes. They are the ones who work double time, triple time, just to make [ends meet]. When they go home, they're tired. They can't take care of their children because they need to sleep and they need to work,” he said in mixed Filipino and English.

Co said he validated the data with the DSWD secretary and then came up with AKAP. 

“Based on the study of [Philippine Statistics Authority], minimum-wage earners need government support because of the rise in rice prices caused by worldwide inflation. They were also affected by Covid-19. In two years [of the pandemic], they lost their savings. They are the 4Ps beneficiaries who graduated to non-poor status but went back to being poor. And when you work and you don't have children, you're not entitled to 4Ps,” he said. 

In his recent statement, Magalong accused House members of receiving P7 million each whenever they join "sorties" for the purpose of distributing aid under either the AKAP, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

He said that a congressman could theoretically get a total of P21 million if he or she participates in all three programs. The mayor dubbed this the "7-7-7 scheme".

'Kickback-free'

Co said that AKAP is "kickback-free". Known as a pet project of House Speaker Martin Romualdez, AKAP was first implemented in 2024. It has a budget of P26 billion under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Co also highlighted AKAP's remarkable success in its first year, 2024, with nearly five million Filipinos receiving P5,000 in cash assistance. Regions such as Cagayan Valley, Davao, and Caraga stood out, achieving 100 percent fund utilization. He said this showcased the program's efficiency and significant impact.

The Ako Bicol solon said he wants AKAP to continue beyond his term in Congress. 

"Like this AKAP, noong umpisahan namin, it was really about having the political will to push through with it. Kasi, ang ginagawa ng mga kalaban o ng opposition, yung good, ginagawang masama. Sasabihin, political (Like this AKAP, when we started it, it was really really about having the political will to push through with it. The opposition turns the good into bad. They will say it’s political).”