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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Comelec yet to receive AKAP implementation guidelines—poll chief

Comelec yet to receive AKAP implementation guidelines—poll chief

Published Feb 3, 2025 09:54 am

Despite the Commission on Elections (Comelec) granting of an exemption to P882 million for the controversial Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), it has yet to receive the implementation guidelines from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

viber_image_2025-02-03_15-48-18-935.jpg
en. Imee Marcos, during Monday’s public hearing February 3, 2025, requests an update from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on a request from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to exempt the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) from the election ban.  (Senate PRIB photo)

During the Senate inquiry into the proposed enhanced guidelines for AKAP led by Senator Imee Marcos, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that this is the reason why they have not yet acted on a new request from DSWD; a total of P12.663 billion AKAP funds.

"The first request involving AKAP at that time only involved P882 million but on Jan. 16, 2025, another letter was received by yours truly, This time this is a supplement to the original request again containing a request for exemption of AKAP and the amount this time is P12,663,600,000," Garcia said.

"We have yet to receive madam chair the guidelines as promised by the Secretary of DSWD," Garcia told Marcos.

Garcia that they have not acted on the second request because he is waiting for the guidelines since no guidelines were issued from the first one that they approved.

"In the approval of such a request for exemption, we included there as one of the conditions that the DSWD should submit to the Comelec the guidelines as publicly promised and pronounced by the DSWD, so that the exemption will be effective beginning 45 days, so March 28 before the election," he further explained.

Comelec had exempted 27 DSWD programs from the election ban, including AKAP, which aims to protect minimum wage earners from the effects of inflation. But Garcia said that they have yet to receive the guidelines for these.

He said that these were exempted subject to the submission of the guidelines for the implementation of these programs.

In a chance interview, Garcia said that the poll body's Committee on Kontra Bigay is proposing to the Commission En Banc to have all kinds of financial aid prohibited 10 days before the elections. So far, Garcia said that only the Assistance to Individuals In Crisis Situations (AICS) has been prohibited.

He said that they are contemplating including AKAP in this prohibition.

According to DSWD Usec. Aliah Dimaporo, the guidelines have been submitted to President Marcos for his approval.

Related Tags

comelec chairman george erwin garcia AKAP Senator Imee Marcos Commission on Elections (Comelec) Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
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