Marcos admin drops AKAP funding in proposed 2026 budget

MANILA, Philippines — The executive branch did not propose funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) for the 2026 national budget. 

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said on Wednesday, August 13, that the government social welfare program was removed from the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

“Doon po sa AKAP, wala po ‘yung AKAP sa budget ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) for next year,” Pangandaman said during a press briefing at the House of Representatives.

(In AKAP’s case, there is no allocation for it in the DSWD budget for next year.) 

Asked by the media if this meant AKAP would have no allocation next year, she replied, “Wala po (None).”

AKAP was first introduced in 2023 by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Elizaldy Co (Ako Bicol Party-list) to provide financial assistance to below minimum wage earners and indigent Filipinos affected by inflation. 

Some call it Romualdez’s “pet project,” which was included in the 2024 national budget and again in 2025, with roughly P26 billion allotted for each year.    

According to Pangandaman, AKAP was not allocated funding for 2026 because it still has remaining funds from 2025 and the government has “limited fiscal space.”

“May natitirang pondo pa po for 2025 and like I mentioned a while ago, we received a total of P10 trillion proposal from agencies, and given our limited fiscal space, hindi pa po natin siya sinama,” she said. 

(There are still remaining funds for 2025 and, like I mentioned earlier, we received a total of P10 trillion in proposals from agencies. Given our limited fiscal space, we did not include it for now.)

AKAP has faced criticism for allegedly functioning like a “pork barrel,” with claims that lawmakers have discretion over selecting its beneficiaries.

House members have denied the allegations, saying the DSWD implements the program and that its social workers screen and approve beneficiaries. 

The DSWD, however, explained that legislators and local officials can refer potential aid recipients but have no authority over the final selection.

The fund was utilized in the aftermath of a series of storms in July, from Crising to Emong, during which hundreds of cities and municipalities declared a state of calamity due to severe flooding and mass displacement of residents.

According to the DSWD, AKAP offers food, medical, funeral and cash relief assistance of up to P10,000, depending on the social worker’s assessment.  

During the 2025 budget deliberations, lawmakers questioned the AKAP program for its similarities to the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS). 

Critics also pointed to the lack of clear guidelines, calling it merely a “dole-out” scheme. While the Senate initially removed the program, it was later reinstated during the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

With no allocation for AKAP in the 2026 budget, the House and Senate face a test of their commitment to transparent and honest deliberations until the ratification of the budget.