MANILA — Senate Finance Committee Vice Chair Imee Marcos said the Ayuda Sa Kapos ang Kita Program, or AKAP, which has an allocation of P39 billion in the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development is not a priority program of her brother President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration

The panel led by Sen. Grace Poe submitted a recommendation to the full Senate removing the AKAP from House Bill 10800, or the proposed General Appropriations Bill of 2025. 

"Yes, may siningit na naman eh (Yes, it was an insertion)," Marcos said of the funding for AKAP, a financial assistance program to help minimum-wage earners not covered by other DSWD programs cope with inflation.

She said that the proposed spending plan submitted by the Marcos Jr. administration had included social assistance programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations and burial assistance.

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"Nagulat kami, matapos [ma]padala ng Pangulo, tapos nag-hearing kami sa DSWD, wala namang binanggit 'yung DSWD. Ang hinihingi nila, pwede ba dagdagan ng tulong sa food stamp, pwede ba dagdagan yung [Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program]. Marami silang hinihingi, wala naman silang binabanggit na AKAP," she said.

(We were surprised because after the President sent the proposed budget and we had a hearing with the DSWD, they didn't say anything about AKAP. They were asking for increased funding for the food stamp program, for 4Ps but they didn't mention AKAP)

P39-B BUDGET IN HOUSE VERSION OF BUDGET BILL

She said that funding for AKAP was included in the House version of the budget bill.

"Sabi ko, 'maliwanag naman, hindi na ito prayoridad ng gobyerno. Hindi naman pinasok ng Pangulo. Hindi rin naman pinasok ng DSWD. Bakit biglang may P39 billion na bumubukol dito?'" Marcos told an interview.

(I said 'It's clear that this isn't a priority program. The President didn't put that in. The DSWD didn't either. How come P39 billion was inserted here?)

HB 10800 allocates P39.035 billion for AKAP in the proposed 2025 budget, up from P26.7 billion in the 2024 national budget.

She however said it is up to the Senate leadership to decide where it will reallocate the affected P39-billion budget.

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Differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, including the annual budget bill, are ironed out by the bicameral conference committee.

Marcos said she would prefer that instead of just aid, money can also be allocated to flood control.

"Nakakaawa na 'yung ating mga kababayan dito sa Bulacan. Parang magdi-disappear na yata yung isang distrito ng Pampanga. Maawa't, mahabag — Navotas,ayan. Malabon. Puwede ba? 'Yun na ang tutukan natin. Huwag lang ayuda, kundi 'yun talagang sapat na solusyon." Marcos said.

(I pity our compatriots in Bulacan and it seems like one district in Pampanga has disappeared. Navotas and Malabon too. Can we focus on them? Let's not just give aid but an appropriate solution)