Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said Thursday the House of Representatives is fully committed to securing the funding for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in the 2025 budget.

Romualdez said more than 4 million “near poor” Filipinos nationwide have benefited from the program.

“AKAP is not just a safety net; it is a lifeline for millions of Filipino families teetering on the edge of poverty. This initiative has proven its value by providing immediate relief to struggling households, empowering them to weather economic challenges, and ensuring their resilience against inflation and other shocks,” he said in a news release.

“It reflects our collective vision of a more inclusive and compassionate governance model. It is the kind of program that builds trust in government by directly addressing the needs of ordinary Filipinos.”

AKAP provides one-time cash assistance of PHP3,000 to PHP5,000 to qualified beneficiaries whose incomes fall below the poverty threshold and who are not covered by other government aid programs.

Romualdez noted that AKAP’s impact is evident in its extensive reach, with PHP20.7 billion of the PHP26.7 billion allocation already used, benefiting millions across all regions, including more than 589,000 families in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone.

Regions like Central Luzon, Bicol, and Western Visayas have also achieved significant fund utilization rates exceeding 70 percent.

“Programs like AKAP demonstrate what effective government intervention looks like. It stabilizes households, strengthens communities, and contributes to the country’s overall economic resilience. Cutting its funding would be a disservice to the millions who rely on this vital assistance,” he said.

The House leader called on the Senate to reconsider proposals to defund AKAP, echoing DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s appeal to protect the program in the 2025 budget.

“We stand with Secretary Gatchalian in urging our colleagues in the Senate to uphold the AKAP budget. This is about ensuring that no Filipino family falls back into poverty because of insufficient support. The House of Representatives is ready to champion this cause in the bicameral discussions, if necessary,” he said.

“We will fight for AKAP because it fights for the Filipino people. This program is a testament to what good governance can achieve and we will not allow its gains to be rolled back.” (PNA)