Binigyang diin ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian na hindi pork barrel ang Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), at hindi responsibilidad ng barangay officials ang listahan ng mga benepisyaryo ng programa.
“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,” paglilinaw ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Ang pahayag ng DSWD chief ay tugon sa December 26 statement ni Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio kung saan sinabi nito na ang cash assistance sa ilalim ng AKAP ay kahalintulad sa pork barrel at ang mga barangay officials umano ang nagsusumite ng listahan ng beneficiaries nito.
Ayon sa DSWD chief, walang nakasaad sa AKAP guidelines na may kapangyarihan ang mga barangay officials na humawak ng list of beneficiaries na makakatanggap ng cash assistance mula sa ahensya.
“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,” sabi pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Pinaliwanag pa ng Kalihim na maaaring mag-refer ang mga mambabatas at mga local officials ng potential aid recipients subalit ito ay dadaan pa rin sa assessment at verification ng mga social workers upang matiyak ang eligibility ng mga beneficiaries ng programa base na rin sa AKAP guidelines.
“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,” saad pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Nakasaad sa General Appropriations Act of 2024, partikular ang Special Provision No. 3 ng DSWD Budget na ino-authorized ang funding ng AKAP na nagkakahalaga ng P26.7 billion bilang financial assistance para sa mga minimum wage earners na nasa category ng low income at apektado ng pagtaas ng bilihin o inflation.
Umabot sa halos 5 million ‘near poor’ Filipinos ang nagbenepisyo mula sa AKAP mula ng simulan ang programa noong January hanggang December 26 ngayong taon.# (MVC)
