The Department of Social Welfare and Development has simplified the guidelines for the P26 billion Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program, which would give cash to low income and minimum wage earners affected by inflation.

In a statement, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said minimum wage earners or low-income earners under the formal economy who wish to avail of the AKAP aid may present any of the following documents issued within the last three months: 

1. duly signed Contract of Employment; Certificate of Employment with Compensation (COE); 
2. an Income Tax Return (ITR) or BIR Form 2316; 
3. duly signed Audited Financial Statement, or 
4. a Certificate of Tax Exemption.

For the AKAP beneficiaries from the informal economy, the applicant must present any of the following: 

1. a certification from a direct employer; 
2. certification from government offices recognizing certain sectors or groups; 
3. association certification; 
4. business permit or barangay certification in case of small business owners.  

Potential beneficiaries may also submit a Social Case Summary or Social Case Study Report from Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) or signed by any registered social worker; certificate of attestation; or notarized affidavit of low income which may be applicable.

“Other relevant documents are also required depending on the type of assistance needed in addition to the basic requirements establishing the eligibility of the clients,” Dumlao said.

The AKAP program has come under fire after it was inserted in the 2025 proposed budget at the last minute by the bicameral conference committee instead of being tackled by the full Senate.

Senate panel recommends deletion of House-AKAP from 2025 budget

Critics say the AKAP program could be used to sway voters ahead of the 2025 midterm elections. 

Sen. Koko Pimentel said AKAP seemed to be a duplication of the existing assistance to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) program, which provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance for other support services or needs of a person or family.

DSWD denies P26 billion AKAP funds is pork barrel

Sen. Imee Marcos, who recommended deletion of the AKAP allocation, has said the fund was an insertion that was not included in President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s proposed spending plan.

P2,000-P10,000 CASH AID

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian earlier said AKAP beneficiaries can receive P2,000-P10,000, depending on their need, with a holdout period of 3 months.

The menu of assistance under the AKAP are medical, funeral, food, and cash relief which are provided directly through the Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) of the Department at both Central and Field Offices and through the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) and Satellite Offices across the country.

The assistance to be provided under  the AKAP may be in the form of cash or guarantee letter (GL).

The AKAP can also be implemented in partnership with local government units (LGUs) at the provincial, municipal, city, or barangay level. The provided assistance is called “Rice Assistance” where beneficiaries can use this to purchase rice to meet their nutritional requirements for sustenance.

”However, it is also clearly stated in the guidelines that a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the LGU and the DSWD is required. This is one of our measures to ensure that the funds are used with transparency and in line with its intended purpose,” Dumlao emphasized.

A beneficiary of the Rice Assistance through the LGUs may still qualify to receive the other types of assistance (medical, funeral, or cash relief) subject to the professional assessment of the DSWD social worker and availability of funds.