DBM says P13-B budget balance can plug zero funding for AKAP
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) still has P13 billion to fund its cash assistance program Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said, after the program received zero budget for 2026.
“Upon review, there’s still (a) P13-billion balance from the P26 billion appropriated for this year. The DSWD can still use that until the end of the year [and next year],” she said during a House Committee on Appropriations briefing on Monday.
This came as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) submitted the P6.793-trillion proposed National Expenditure Program and allotted zero funds for the controversial social assistance program next year.
Ms. Pangandaman reiterated that the agency received P10.1-trillion funding request from government agencies.
“We have to prioritize the projects and programs that were proposed by each and every department,” she said.
AKAP is a social welfare scheme that provides one-time cash assistance worth P3,000 to P5,000 to workers whose income falls below the poverty threshold.
The House-backed assistance program continues to face criticism as concerns of being “politicized.” — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante
