Sen. Marcos chides gov’t execs over lack of AKAP beneficiaries’ list
The Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap) was launched nationwide by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with an initial funding of P3 billion.
MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos on Monday grilled top government officials for failing to present a clear list of people qualified to benefit from the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
During the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development’s hearing, Sen. Marcos asked the Department of Labor and Employment, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to provide the list.
“Paano niyo matutukoy kung sino yung tamang beneficiary wala naman pala kayong listahan ng minimum wage earner?” asked Marcos.
(How would you identify the proper beneficiaries if you don’t have a list of minimum wage earners?)
Article continues after this advertisementAt the end of Marcos’ prodding was DOLE Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez, who argued that any type of assistance has a clear “process of application.”
Article continues after this advertisement“Pero ang maliwanag walang listahan ang minimum wage earner ngayon — sa DOLE man o sa DSWD? At ito ang target ng AKAP ngunit hindi maliwanag kung sino sila? Wala kayong pangalan?” asked Marcos, to which Benavidez answered none.
(But it’s clear that there’s no list of minimum wage earners for now — from the DOLE and DSWD? And this is the target of AKAP, but it’s not clear up to now who they are? You don’t have names?)
Meanwhile, Marcos likewise grilled DSWD, asking if it can provide a list of AKAP beneficiaries.
DSWD Undersecretary Aliah Dimaporo, similar to what was disclosed by Benavidez, confirmed that the list that the senator is looking for is still nonexistent.
“So ang sinasabi ninyo wala rin kayong listahan, kung ang NEDA at ang DOLE walang listahan ng mga magiging beneficiaries nitong programang to, inaamin rin ng DSWD na sa ngayon wala rin kayong listahan para sa mga beneficiaries nito tama po ba?” asked Marcos.
(So you’re saying you don’t have a list. If NEDA and DOLE don’t have a list of beneficiaries for this program, the DSWD also admits that you don’t have a list of its beneficiaries, is that right?)
“There’s no list but there are guidelines [that] will provide the requirements to avail of AKAP,” answered Dimaporo.
This, however, did not sit well with Marcos, who proceeded to emphasize that the apparent absence of such a list just indicates that the government is “not aware who the potential beneficiaries [of AKAP] are.”
To qualify as a beneficiary under the AKAP, the DSWD said a certain individual must belong to the low-income category, especially those whose income does not exceed the statutory minimum wage.
This was also revised and “simplified” by the agency, including “low-income and minimum wage-earners,” especially those who were “hit by inflation.”
