AKAP funds for lawmakers resemble ‘pork barrel’ — Carpio

Metro Manila, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio believes that the one-time cash assistance for near-poor Filipinos, assigned to lawmakers in the proposed 2025 budget resembles the controversial pork barrel that has managed to circumvent the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Carpio expressed concerns over the ₱26 billion allocation for Ayuda para sa Kapos ng Kita (AKAP).

“It resembles. It is actually a pork barrel. Kaya lang, inayos nila na the congressmen, the senators, have no say in recommending,” said Carpio.

[Translation: It resembles. It is actually a pork barrel. However, they arranged it so that the congressmen and the senators have no say in recommending.]

Carpio clarified, however, that the AKAP allocation does not violate the Constitution, unlike the pork barrel.

“Makikita mo na walang nothing in writing na may role ang congressman. So, nahanapan nila ng lusot,” said Carpio.

[Translation: You will see that there is nothing in writing indicating that congressmen have a role. So, they found a loophole.]

The former SC magistrate noted potential issues with the implementing rules of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Well, ang ginagawa nila ngayon, nakalagay sa implementing rules ng DSWD, it is the barangay that will submit the names of beneficiaries. So pinapalabas nila galing sa barangay yan. Pero actually, usap-usapan na lang nila na itong distrito magkaroon ng this amount,” he said.

[Translation: What they are doing now is stated in the DSWD’s implementing rules: it is the barangay that will submit the names of beneficiaries. So, they make it appear as if it comes from the barangay. But in reality, it’s just an understanding among them that this district will get this amount.]

The Supreme Court previously declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or congressional pork unconstitutional.

DSWD: AKAP not pork

Meanwhile, the DSWD clarified that AKAP funds are “not pork barrel” and emphasized that social workers, not barangay officials, handle the processing of applications for social aid.

In a statement on Friday, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained that while lawmakers and local officials can refer potential beneficiaries, eligibility is determined solely by social workers based on AKAP guidelines.

“With due respect to the former Supreme Court Justice, AKAP is not pork barrel. Any good Samaritan can refer potential beneficiaries, and barangay officials have no role in the process under our existing guidelines,” Gatchalian said.

He said AKAP aims to support “minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos” with goods or services to ease the impact of inflation. According to the DSWD, the program benefited five million people since its launch in January this year.