DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Rexlon Gatchalian informed the public on Saturday that the agency’s key protective services programs, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), have helped a large number of poor Filipinos.
Gatchalian made the remark in denying allegations that AICS and AKAP are being used for electoral purposes, including “vote buying.”
“Let me reiterate that all 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,” Gatchalian said.
Department of Social and Welfare Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Photos by John Orven Verdote
He added, “The DSWD continues to process applications and distribute assistance through AICS and AKAP to qualified beneficiaries.”
Gatchalian emphasized that DSWD follows an extensive verification and validation procedure for individuals seeking financial help, including referrals from lawmakers and other officials.
“The assessment being done by our licensed social workers is critical to avoid the overlap of assistance with the other DSWD programs,” Gatchalian said.
While the DSWD works closely with local government leaders to organize payout operations, financing for AKAP and AICS comes from the agency’s budget, as specified in the General Appropriations Act (GAA).
From January to December 2023, the DSWD gave P40.9 billion in financial assistance to nearly 6.5 million Filipinos in challenging situations under the AICS program.
Over 4 million “near poor” Filipinos, on the other hand, benefited from the AKAP during its first year of implementation, which ran from January to October 2024.
The AKAP program had a significant impact, with P20.7 billion (77.57 percent) of the overall P26.7 billion budget allocation already utilized.
The AKAP offers qualified individuals one-time financial assistance ranging from P3,000 to P5,000.
To qualify, families must have an income below the poverty line and are not receiving aid from other government programs.
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