Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III questioned the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) about its Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) during a budget presentation for 2025.
Pimentel was concerned about the program’s visibility compared to the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and its apparent lack of awareness among senators.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian clarified that AKAP is similar to AICS but operates without imposing conditions or behavior changes.
Senator Imee Marcos expressed surprise that AKAP funding appeared unexpectedly in the 2024 budget, suggesting it might have been used for political purposes.
Pimentel vowed to address the issue further during the budget deliberations, while Gatchalian hopes Congress will retain AKAP funding in the 2025 budget.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 17, 2024
