The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomes legislative measures which aim to institutionalize the social safety-net program called the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), an agency official said on Thursday (September 19).

“Kung mayroon pong legislative measure na isinusulong sa Kongreso, of course, we welcome that because that would mean additional services for the sectors that we serve,” DSWD Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao told reporters during the Thursday Media Forum at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

Camarines Norte Rep. Rosemarie Panotes has been pushing for a measure to make permanent the AKAP cash aid program of the DSWD intended for low-income earners, to ensure it will continue despite changes in the country’s leadership.

Rep. Panotes filed House Bill No. 10700 or the proposed “Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) Act,” citing its success in helping minimum wage earners cope with the elevated costs of goods and services.

“Sabi nga ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the Senate budget briefing, matagal na rin po talagang gusto ng DSWD na magkaroon din talaga ng programa para sa mga near poor kasi mayroon tayong datos nyan…ang lagi nga po nating tinitingnan, dapat mapangalagaan, dapat maprotektahan din sila from the impacts of inflation or from the effects of various disasters,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, pointed out.

The DSWD spokesperson said the AKAP has been receiving good feedback from its beneficiaries which can be viewed by the public in the social media pages of DSWD Central Office and Field Offices.

“Batay naman po sa mga isinagawa nating payout activities and the feedback that we are getting from the beneficiaries ay malaking tulong itong financial assistance na natatanggap nila dahil ang sinasabi nga nila,  sila man daw, kahit may mga kinikita araw-araw, sumasahod sila, ay naaapektuhan nga rin daw ng inflation,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The DSWD official invited legislators to observe the AKAP implementation so they can provide suggestions or insights to further improve the program.

“Our esteemed and respected legislators are welcome to observe how the DSWD implements ito pong AKAP,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

In her explanatory note, Rep. Panotes said AKAP was mandated under a special provision in the 2024 General Appropriations Act to give financial aid to low-wage workers heavily affected by rising inflation.

“Due to the immense success of the program in alleviating the plight of the vulnerable and disadvantaged minimum wage earners, there is a need to make this permanent that whoever will govern the country, the granting of AKAP will continue so that target beneficiaries and their families needing immediate intervention may have access to basic services from the government,” Rep. Panotes said.

During the Senate Finance Committee deliberation of the DSWD 2025 proposed budget last September 16, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the agency will continue to lobby for the retention of the AKAP in the line item of its incoming budget.

“Because it is helping our people,” Secretary Gatchalian told the committee members during the Senate finance committee budget deliberation.

Secretary Gatchalian said the Department has published the guidelines so the people will know how to access it. #

Tagalog Version

Pagsasabatas sa AKAP program, malaking tulong sa mga kapos ang kita-DSWD spox

Sang-ayon ang Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sa pagsasabatas ng Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), dahil mas maraming mahihirap na kapos ang kinikita ang matutulungan ng programa.

Sa ginanap na Thursday Media Forum sa DSWD New Press Center, sinabi ni DSWD Spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao “Kung mayroon pong legislative measure na isinusulong sa Kongreso, of course, we welcome that because that would mean additional services for the sectors that we serve.”

Nauna rito, isinusulong ni Camarines Norte Rep. Rosemarie Panotes na maging permanente na ang pagbibigay ng tulong para sa mga low wage earners sa pamamagitan ng AKAP cash aid program.

Isinampa ni Rep. Panotes ang House Bill No. 10700 o ang proposed “Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) Act,” kung saan binanggit nito na marami sa mga manggagawang minimum o low wage earners ang natutulungan ng nasabing programa.

“Sabi nga ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the Senate budget briefing, matagal na rin po talagang gusto ng DSWD na magkaroon din talaga ng programa para sa mga near poor kasi mayroon tayong datos nyan…ang lagi nga po nating tinitingnan, dapat mapangalagaan, dapat maprotektahan din sila from the impacts of inflation or from the effects of various disasters,” paliwanag pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Sabi pa ng DSWD spokesperson, maraming magandang puna at papuri ang natatanggap ng ahensya mula mismo sa mga benepisyaryo nito. Ito anya ay maaaring makita o mabasa sa social media pages ng DSWD Central Office at Field Offices.

“Batay naman po sa mga isinagawa nating payout activities and the feedback that we are getting from the beneficiaries ay malaking tulong itong financial assistance na natatanggap nila dahil ang sinasabi nga nila, sila man daw, kahit may mga kinikita araw-araw, sumasahod sila, ay naaapektuhan nga rin daw ng inflation,” sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Samantala, inanyayahan naman ng DSWD official ang ibang mga mambatats na mag-observe sa implementasyon ng AKAP para sa mga suggestions o insights para sa ikagaganda ng programa.

“Our esteemed and respected legislators are welcome to observe how the DSWD implements ito pong AKAP,” sabi pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.

Sa explanatory note, sinabi ni Rep. Panotes na ang AKAP ay mandato sa ilalim ng special provision ng 2024 General Appropriations Act na nagsasaad ng pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal para sa mga low-wage workers na apektado ng inflation o pagtaas ng bilihin.

“Due to the immense success of the program in alleviating the plight of the vulnerable and disadvantaged minimum wage earners, there is a need to make this permanent that whoever will govern the country, the granting of AKAP will continue so that target beneficiaries and their families needing immediate intervention may have access to basic services from the government,” ayon kay Rep. Panotes .

Sa ginanap na Senate Finance Committee deliberation para sa 2025 proposed budget ng DSWD nitong September 16, sinabi ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian na patuloy ang ahensya sa pagsusulong ng pagpapanatili ng AKAP bilang isa sa mga programa ng DSWD.

“Because it is helping our people,”sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian sa budget deliberation sa Senadoi kamakailan.

Gayundin, sinabi na rin ni Secretary Gatchalian na nakapag-publish na din ng guidelines ang ahensya upang ipabatid sa publiko kung paano ma-access ang programa. #