About 17,000 Ilocos Norte residents are set to receive on Wednesday cash aid amounting to PHP71 million under the national government’s Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to lead the aid distribution at the Laoag City Centennial Arena for the 10,000 District 1 beneficiaries and at the Mariano Marcos State University gymnatorium for the 7,000 District 2 beneficiaries.

Each beneficiary will get PHP3,000 to PHP5,000 based on the assessment of the documents they submitted to the offices of their respective congressional representatives, in coordination with the DSWD.

“This is a big help for us to sustain our livelihood,” Antonio Agustin, an ambulant vendor from this city, said in an interview.

Agustin said he was lucky enough to receive a copy of the aid application from their village officials. He was also issued a certification as one of the low-income families in the village.

AKAP, which was allocated PHP500 billion under the 2024 national budget, is among the government’s poverty alleviation programs.

Its beneficiaries include solo parents, fisherfolk, and vendors. (PNA)