The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office VI rolled out the AKAP or Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program in Western Visayas on Saturday, May 18, that involved the distribution of P60.9 million to near poor families.
The most number of targeted recipients were in Negros Occidental with 7,440, families, Iloilo – 5,222 families, Capitz – 3,414, Antique – 2,504 and Aklan – 1,731.
In the 5th District of Negros 2,150 fisherfolk were AKAP beneficiaries on Saturday, Rep. Emilio Yulo (Neg. Occ., 5th District) said.
They are among the most disadvantaged sectors, Yulo said.
The DSWD released P3,000 cash assistance to 20,311 near poor families in 16 sites across Western Visayas on Saturday. There are other areas where payout will be conducted in the following days, the DSWD said.
AKAP is targeted to help beneficiaries who are in the low income category such as those whose income do not exceed the statutory minimum wage.
“We are glad that this time, the near poor, who are also contributing in our economy, get the assistance from the government. This is the sector that we do not want to fall back to poverty due to economic shocks such as the inflation nowadays,” DSWD regional director Carmelo N. Nochete said.
The AKAP is the national government’s response to help the near poor families affected by inflation, which is the increase in the prices of goods and services, he said.
Households receiving regular assistance under 4Ps and social pension are not qualified for the program.
A total of P26.7 billion has been earmarked for AKAP’s implementation in the country in 2024, the DSWD said.*