DSWD asks Comelec to exempt another P12-B AKAP funds from election ban

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has requested the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt another P12 billion worth of Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) funds from the election spending ban for Eleksyon 2025.

This was disclosed Monday by Comelec chairperson George Garcia during the Senate inquiry into the proposed enhanced guidelines for the controversial AKAP.

According to the Comelec chief, the DSWD sent him a letter on January 16, 2025 asking them to exempt P12.663 billion AKAP funds from the election ban.

This is on top of the P882 million that was already granted exemption by the poll body earlier this month.

"The first request involving AKAP at that time only involved P882 million but on Jan. 16, 2025 another letter was received by yours truly, This time this is a supplement to the original request again containing a request for exemption of AKAP and the amount this time is P12,663,600,000," Garcia said.

Garcia said he has not acted yet on DSWD's request as the agency has yet to provide them the implementation guidelines of AKAP, which is one of the conditions that the Comelec has set in approving the first exemption request involving P882 million.

"As of this time, I have not acted on such a request simply because I'm waiting for the guidelines as committed. Because dun nga po sa una wala pa 'yung guidelines eh, 'dun sa unang in-approve natin na P882 million. I cannot act on the second request until and unless there is that guidelines issued by the DSWD," Garcia said.

(They have not submitted yet the guidelines which was a condition on the exemption of the P882 million from election ban. I cannot act on the second request until and unless there are guidelines issued by the DSWD.)

Aside from the AKAP, the Comelec chief said the DSWD has not provided the guidelines for the 27 other social programs.

Like what had been imposed to the Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situations (AICS), the Comelec is also eyeing a total ban on the distribution of AKAP 10 days before the election.

"May resolution po ang COMELEC prior to the request that AICS shall be absolutely prohibited 10 days before the elections. Wala pa po kaming alam kasi sa AKAP kasi bagong programa po ang AKAP eh," Garcia said.

"We're now contemplating of including even AKAP sa absolute prohibition sa 10 days before the elections and such other ayuda program so that it will not be used for purposes of abuse of state resources," he added.

(The Comelec has a resolution prior to the request that AICS shall be absolutely prohibited 10 days before the elections. We had no idea about AKAP because it is a new program, but we're now contemplating the inclusion of AKAP and such other financial aid programs in the absolute prohibition so that it will not be used for purposes of abuse of state resources.)

Some members of Congress, including Senator Imee Marcos, specifically raised concerns about the P26-billion funding for AKAP, which President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. retained in the 2025 national budget.

Leaders of the House of Representatives had previously dismissed claims that the program is being used as a political tool ahead of the May 2025 elections.

The DSWD earlier said that it is tightening its guidelines in implementing AKAP to ensure that it would not be used for political gains. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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