Marcos keeps AKAP, holds fund release pending guidelines
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has retained the controversial P26 billion Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), a social aid program for minimum wage earners, in the 2025 national budget, but its implementation will be conditional, according to economic managers.
“AKAP, it’s still there. It’s just that bago natin marelease yung pondo (before we release the fund), we need to issue guidelines,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a press conference after the signing of the 2025 budget on Monday, Dec. 30.
She said the guidelines will be crafted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the National Economic and Development Authority.
“Para maging consistent yung pagbibigay ng AKAP doon sa gusto nating mangyari doon sa tamang recipients, hindi magkadoble-doble yung binibigay nating cash assistance,” Pangandaman said.
[Translation: It’s to ensure consistency in the distribution of AKAP to the intended recipients and avoid duplicating the cash assistance given.]
If the conditions are not met, the funds will not be released, Pangandaman said, adding that the money will be marked as “unreleased appropriations.”
She explained that this is referred to as “conditional implementation,” which will also apply to other programs, such as the DSWD’s Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan and the Department of Public Works and Highways' “basic infrastructure program,” among others.
“Ang conditional implementation, is hindi natin kaagad-agad maibibigay sa kanila yung mga pondo dahil kailangan maglabas pa tayo ng gudielines at implementing rules bago natin mailabas yan,” Pangandaman further explained.
[Translation: Conditional implementation means we cannot immediately release the funds because we still need to issue guidelines and implementing rules before we can disburse it.]
The AKAP controversy
AKAP is one of the most contentious provisions in the 2025 budget. It was introduced by the House of Representatives, which initially allocated P39 billion for the program, an increase from the P26.7 billion allocated for its first year of implementation in 2024.
Some senators called it a mere House insertion during the 2023 bicameral conference committee meetings, where the two houses reconciled differences in their versions of the General Appropriations Bill to be sent to the President.
The Senate initially defunded the program in the proposed budget for next year, citing concerns over unclear guidelines and potential overlap with other social assistance programs. However, the Senate later agreed to allocate P26 billion for AKAP during the bicam meeting earlier this month.
Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio told NewsWatch Plus that the AKAP funds "resemble" the discretionary pork barrel funds, which the Supreme Court had declared unconstitutional.
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian defended the program, stating that while lawmakers and local officials can refer potential beneficiaries, eligibility is determined solely by social workers based on AKAP guidelines.
