From left to right: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" Gonzales Jr. (3rd district, Pampanga), Majority Leader Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe (2nd district, Zamboanga City), Deputy Speaker David "Jay-jay" Suarez (2nd district, Quezon) (Facebook)

Top leaders of the House of Representatives have cited the need to improve and expand the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) amid the criticism being hurled at the financial aid program.

This, after Senior Deputy Speaker Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speake Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-Jay” Suarez, and House Majority Leader Zamboanga City 2nd district Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix" Dalipe saw the results of an OCTA Research survey, which showed that 79 percent of adult Filipinos were aware of AKAP and 69 percent support its continuation and expansion.

In a joint statement, the trio emphasized that strengthening AKAP and other similar aid programs can help address real struggles faced by Filipinos.

“Nagsalita na ang taumbayan. Nananawagan ako sa ating mga lider ng bansa, pakinggan natin sila. Kailangan nating gawing mas mabilis at episyente ang ating AKAP para tunay na maramdaman ng masa ang kalinga at malasakit," Gonzales said.

(The people have spoken. I appeal to the leaders of this country, let's listen to them. We need to make our AKAP faster and more efficient so that the public can truly feel the government’s care and compassion.)

Suarez echoed the call for a compassionate and unbiased approach.

“Sa nakaraang mga araw at buwan, nilalamon ng maruming pamumulitika ang kabutihang dulot ng direktang tulong para sa mga taong araw-araw na nakakaranas ng gutom at hirap. Kahit pa ganoon, datos na ang nagpapakita—siraan man nila ang AKAP, ramdam ng tao ang tunay na pakinabang nito,” Suarez stressed.

(In the past few days and months, the positive effects of this direct aid to people who battle with hunger and poverty everyday has been overshadowed by dirty politics. This notwithstanding, the data will show that even if they malign AKAP, the people feel its true benefits.)

For his part, Dalipe added a forward-looking perspective to the discussion. “Ang survey na ito ay nagpapatunay na alam ng masa ang halaga ng ating programa (This survey proves that the masses know the importance of our program.)"

“Imbes na paninira ang pinag-aaksayahan ng panahon, bakit hindi tayo magtulungan upang mapabilis ang pag-abot ng tulong? Ang bawat Pilipino ay karapat-dapat na makaramdam ng tunay na malasakit mula sa pamahalaan,” he added.

(Instead of wasting our time on smear campaigns, why can't we cooperate with each other in order to hasten the delivery of aid? Every Filipino has the right to feel true compassion from the government.)

The OCTA Research survey, conducted from January 25 to 31, 2025, involved 1,200 face-to-face interviews with a diverse group of respondents across Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with a ±3 percent margin of error nationally and a ±6 percent margin on subnational estimates.

House leaders underscored that these strong survey figures provide lawmakers with a clear mandate to act.