Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed gratitude anew to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for recognizing the needs of the poor and the vulnerable sectors as it approved the exemption from the election spending ban of key agency programs including the “Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“Kasama ito (AKAP) ng mga programa na hiningan namin ng exemption, dahil alam natin na ang mandato ng DSWD ay tumulong sa mahihirap nating kababayan,” Secretary Gatchalian said over Radyo Pilipinas’ Bangon, Bayang Mahal radio program on Friday (March 21).
The DSWD chief stressed that the said exemption benefits the poor and vulnerable sectors that DSWD is mandated to serve.
“Hindi yan (pangangailangan) nagwawakas dahil mag-eeleksyon. Hindi natin pwede sabihin, oh wag kayong magkakasakit, dahil may eleksyon. Tuloy-tuloy ang DSWD,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The Department has put in place measures to ensure that the AKAP program will not be exploited by politicians during the election, according to the DSWD chief.
“Ang assurance namin sa publiko, hindi ito magagamit sa pulitika dahil may mga guidelines na tayo na ginawa kasama ang National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) at ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), kung saan hindi papayagan ang mga kumakandidato at mga public servants na pumunta sa mga payout centers,” Secretary Gatchalian told Radyo Pilipinas.
The new AKAP set of guidelines prepared by the DSWD with DOLE and NEDA provides additional safety measures to ensure that the program is protected from being exploited. The formulation of this policy was a requirement set by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as conveyed in his veto message during the signing of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2025 last December 20, 2024.
Under the guidelines, the electoral candidates are also not allowed to post their campaign tarpaulins and posters in all pay-out centers. The Department will also publish the list of beneficiaries for reportorial purposes and as part of the transparency measures.
The DSWD chief strongly reiterated that the AKAP is a nationwide program that provides assistance to Filipinos with no need for any referral and will be fairly assessed by social workers.
“Basta may nangangailangan, kahit walang referral, pumunta lang sa tanggapan ng DSWD. Ang aming mga social workers ay nakahanda para tumulong,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Under the AKAP, the Department was able to help more than four million eligible beneficiaries in 2024. (GDVF)