THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI assured the agency’s payouts of financial assistance will not be used for politicking in the May 2025 local and national elections.
During the Kapihan sa PIA on Friday, Merlinda Paragamac, DSWD XI assistant regional director for operations, said the agency would stick to the guidelines set in implementing financial assistance.
“Our assurance that it is not used under the influence of our politicians. We just comply with the guidelines set of the program,” Paragamac said.
She confirmed that the a (AICS), and Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) are among DSWD’s popular programs.
Due to its nature of the process, AKAP has been the center of controversies where politicians gunning for a seat in the elections have used it for their vested interests.
The DSWD reiterated they accept walk-in clients, whether or not being endorsed by a politician or a public figure.
“Anybody can refer, a private or public person can refer and endorse if the person or community is in need,” Paragamac stressed.
AKAP provides financial aid ranging from P3,000-P5,000 to minimum wage earners falling under the low-income category, who are severely affected by rising inflation.
In the region, DSWD reported they have served 100% of the target 349,592 since its implementation on October 31, with a total fund utilized of ₱1,560,267,286.98.
The main legal basis of (AKAP) is the “General Appropriation Act of 2024, Special Provision No. 3, DSWD Budget,” which authorized the funding for the program. The act mandated that an amount of P26.7 billion shall be used to implement the program.
The program is carried out in modalities such as (a) directly by the DSWD through the Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) at the central and field offices and Social Welfare and Development Satellite Offices nationwide; and (b) through DSWD’s partners such as local government units.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
