NEAR POOR. The Department of Social Welfare and Development launched the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap) nationwide on May 18, 2024, with an initial funding of P3 billion. Photo taken that day and released by the DSWD鈥檚 Mimaropa field office shows the first wave of applicants who came for cash assistance ranging from P3,000 to P5,000 per beneficiary.
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Most Filipinos are in favor of the continuation and expansion of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap), according to polling firm Octa Research.
The Tugon ng Masa survey, which Octa said is an independent and nonpartisan regular poll, indicated that a significant majority of Filipinos, or 69 percent, have a favorable view of Akap, while 31 percent are against the program.
Octa said the survey result highlights Akap鈥檚 鈥減erceived effectiveness and relevance.鈥�
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The highest level of agreement is observed in Balance Luzon (74 percent), while the lowest is in the Visayas (63 percent).
On the other hand, 69 percent of respondents in Metro Manila have a favorable view of Akap, while 66 percent of respondents in Mindanao expressed similar sentiments.
鈥淭hese regional differences may indicate variations in program implementation, accessibility, or differing socio-economic needs that should be further explored,鈥� the pollster noted.
Octa also said 鈥渁ll鈥� adult Filipinos from the Mimaropa (Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) agreed to continue expanding the Akap program (100 percent), while a majority in other regions expressed such sentiments except in three regions: Cagayan Valley (16 percent), Caraga region (42 percent), and Northern Mindanao (49 percent).
Moreover, support for the Department of Social Welfare and Development program is consistent across classes ABC, D, and E.
鈥淪upport for the program is consistent across all socio-economic classes, suggesting that Akap addresses universal concerns that cut across income levels,鈥� Octa said.
Octa said the survey fieldwork was conducted from January 25-31, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 male and female probability respondents aged 18 years and above.
The survey has a 卤3% margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.