DSWD Launches AKAP Program to Support ‘Near Poor’ Minimum Wage Earners

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has introduced the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) specifically designed to aid individuals who are classified as ‘near poor’, including minimum wage earners at risk of falling below the poverty line due to economic shocks.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative aims to serve as a protective measure for those who are vulnerable to financial downturns, such as runaway inflation, which can quickly revert them to poverty.

The program also targets households that have previously benefited from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) but are still at risk of slipping back into poverty. Gatchalian expressed concern that without such support, years of investment in human capital through programs like 4Ps could be lost if these individuals were to fall back into poverty. This concern was highlighted during a meeting with national statistician Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa, a recognized expert on poverty, who underscored the importance of a program to prevent the ‘near poor’ from entering a cycle of poverty.

The inclusion of AKAP in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2024 was seen as a significant step by the DSWD in addressing this issue, with Gatchalian noting the agency had been contemplating such a program. He emphasized the legislative branch’s role in allocating the national budget and expressed respect for its decision to fund AKAP.

Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman clarified that the PHP26.7-billion allocated for AKAP is a specified line item in the 2024 GAA, dispelling rumors that the funds were intended for other purposes, such as a people’s initiative for Charter change. This allocation has been confirmed by Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., who stated that the DSWD has full authority over the use of these funds, following approval during the bicameral conference on the 2024 GAA.

Despite some senators’ initial questions about the program’s existence, their approval of the funding signifies a commitment to its implementation. AKO BICOL Party-list Representative Raul Angelo Bongalon emphasized the importance of preserving the integrity of the AKAP initiative, urging that its intentions be viewed positively and without suspicion.

The DSWD is currently finalizing guidelines to ensure the effective and efficient rollout of AKAP, aiming to safeguard the ‘near poor’ from economic instability and contribute to sustained social welfare.