DSWD bans politicians, their materials during AKAP distribution

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is prohibiting the presence of politicians and any materials associated with them during the distribution of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP). 

According to the AKAP guidelines shared to the media Wednesday, the DSWD will continue to engage in constructive partnership with local and national stakeholders “to prevent acts or engagements that may exploit, abuse, waste, or use the DSWD, its personnel and funds, for personal, or political gain or advancement.” 

“During the offsite implementation of the program, the DSWD will strictly prohibit: the display or distribution of posters, banners, or any materials that link any politicians to the AKAP as well as the presence of any politicians during the conduct of actual distribution of financial assistance under the AKAP,” the guideline reads. 

The DSWD, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) submitted Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2025-01 or the implementing rules on the AKAP program to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, March 4.

AKAP is a social protection program of the DSWD that provides cash aid to individuals who may not have access to regular forms of assistance because they do not belong to the poorest population.

It provides rice assistance, food assistance, medical assistance, funeral assistance, and cash relief assistance to beneficiaries. 

Under the guidelines, those qualified for the assistance include workers employed in the formal or informal sector whose income are below the minimum wage. Self-employed individuals are likewise eligible. 

Beneficiaries are required to present their national (PhilSys) ID, or any government-issued IDs, in claiming financial assistance. In cases wherein they cannot present a valid ID, the beneficiary must submit a justification explaining the absence of their ID, which will include a photo captured by a DSWD social worker. 

Comelec

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the poll body's law department is studying the guidelines before making recommendations for its implementation.

Garcia also said Comelec will utilize the guidelines for the conditions of the P882-million AKAP fund the DSWD requested to be exempted from the spending ban for the May polls. 

“Inaalam nating mabuti kung 'yun bang mga benepisyaryo ay mapipili nang tama at the same time, yung mga ayuda lalo na ang AKAP ay madi-distribute…na hindi mate-take advantage ng mga politiko at kandidato,” said Garcia.

(We are studying if the beneficiaries will be chosen appropriately and at the same time, if the AKAP will be able to be distributed without politicians and candidates' taking advantage.)

“Yun naman ang concern ng Comelec: basta dapat hindi ito napupulitika o magagamit sa pangangampanya o maituturing na pondo ng isang politiko,” he added. 

(That’s our primary concern: the AKAP funding should not be politicized or used by any politician.)

Controversies hound AKAP

Earlier, Garcia said the DSWD requested the poll body to exempt another P12 billion worth of AKAP funds from the election spending ban for Eleksyon 2025.

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

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 previously said that it is tightening its AKAP guidelines to ensure that it would not be used for political gains. 

The Comelec, for its part, said it will ban the distribution of all forms of cash assistance (ayuda) 10 days ahead of the May elections including the controversial AKAP. — BM, GMA Integrated News

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