Senators surprised by P26.7B AKAP in budget

Senators expressed surprise over the P26.7-billion Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) during a probe into the people's initiative campaign on Tuesday, February 13.

DSWD officials stated that AKAP was not part of their original budget proposal for 2024 and is considered 'foreign' to them with no guidelines yet established.

Senator Imee Marcos questioned whether such a large sum could be allocated without clear guidelines or target beneficiaries and alleged that the funds were used to lure people to sign in favor of amending the Constitution through a people's initiative.

House appropriations chairman Elizaldy Co denied that AKAP funds would be directed towards a signature campaign for Charter change, while Senior House Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. noted that the Senate approved the P26.7-billion AKAP funds when it passed the 2024 budget on November 28.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian confirmed that funds for AKAP were not part of the agency's line items for its 2024 budget and attributed the inclusion to an amendment during the bicameral conference.