MANILA, Philippines — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday dismissed claims that the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) is akin to the controversial pork barrel and clarified that barangay officials are not responsible for identifying its beneficiaries.  

“Let me reiterate that all the DSWD’s Field Offices across the country serve people in need, whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit (LGU) officials. DSWD social workers process applications for AKAP and they determine the amount of aid to qualified beneficiaries,” Gatchalian said.  

The statement came in response to remarks made by Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on December 26, alleging that AKAP “resembles the controversial pork barrel” and that “barangay officials submit the list of beneficiaries.”  

Gatchalian said that barangay officials have no role in determining the recipients of AKAP aid, citing the program’s guidelines. 

“With due respect to the former Supreme Court Justice, AKAP is not pork barrel since any good Samaritan can refer potential beneficiaries and the barangay has nothing to do with AKAP based on our existing guidelines,” he said.  

According to Gatchalian, while legislators and local officials can recommend potential beneficiaries, DSWD social workers are tasked with vetting applications to ensure compliance with program criteria.  

“The original intention of the AKAP program is to protect the minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos from the effects of inflation that erode their buying power. It is intended to provide a menu of assistance for goods and services that are affected by high inflation depending on the needs of the individuals,” he said.  

Funded by the General Appropriations Act of 2024, AKAP has a P26.7 billion allocation under Special Provision No. 3 of the DSWD Budget. The program targets minimum wage earners classified as low-income and those severely affected by inflation.  

The DSWD reported that roughly 5 million “near poor” Filipinos benefited from AKAP during its first year of implementation, covering the period from January to December 26 of this year.  

Several lawmakers, including Senator Imee Marcos, the president’s sister, have raised concerns over the budget allocation for AKAP following the reduced PhilHealth subsidy in the proposed 2025 national budget

Marcos, who abstained from signing the bicameral conference committee report finalizing the budget, criticized the significant budget cuts to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) while billions were allocated to AKAP—a newly introduced initiative under the DSWD aimed at assisting near-poor households.

The proposed 2025 budget remains unsigned due to the clamor surrounding the budget but is projected to be signed by President Ferdinand Marcos by December 30.