Residents receive cash assistance as part of the government's Social Amelioration Program in Malibay in Pasay City on May 1, 2020. File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has issued tighter guidelines for the implementation of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program, which has stirred controversy since it was launched.

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Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they have clearly defined the beneficiaries from "low income earners" to "below minimum wage earners."

"Lumiit yung band, kung matatandaan nyo, yung sakop, mas manipis na. Mas defined siya. Pangalawa, nilagyan din ng publication provision kung saan yung beneficiaries ay ipu-publish sa aming webpage," Gatchalian said. 

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(The band of the beneficiaries got smaller, it's now more defined. We also put a publication provision where we will publish the beneficiaries in our webpage.) 

Some critics of AKAP alleged that it gives room for political misuse as a grants-based program.

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Under the new guidelines, only people earning below minimum wage may apply for financial assistance depending on specific needs, such as medical and burial expenses as well as food and transportation expenses.

The guidelines provide a range for financial aid, such as up to P10,000 for medical purposes, and up to P50,000 for burial expenses.

P26 billion has been earmarked for the program in 2025, targeting to help more than 5 million beneficiaries. 

Gatchalian clarified that an applicant must prove their "need" to the agency's professional social workers, and cannot arbitrarily apply for cash aid. 

"Laging may reason, ang social welfare o tulong pinansyal, laging may reason yan. Is it medical? Is it burial? Is it for transportation and food? Yan ang issues na tinatalakay natin," he said. 

(There must always be a reason. Is it medical? Is it burial? Is it for transportation and food? Those are the issues we focus on.)

"Social worker ang magdidikta nung range, sa guidelines, may range siya, bawat item, may range kung magkano ang pwedeng makuha," Gatchalian added.

(Social workers will dictate the range of aid. Each item has a corresponding value of aid.)

To further prevent abuse, beneficiaries receiving aid should wait for 3 months before applying again. 

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Gatchalian also said the funds for the program cannot be used for political gain, especially with the upcoming local campaign.

They are banning the presence of politicians and candidates during payouts, and promised to remove campaign paraphernalia in the distribution.

"Ine-emphasize pa rin na hindi ito pwede magamit for anyone's political gain, and we are prohibiting any political activity during the course of our payout," Gatchalian said.

(We are emphasizing that the program cannot be used for anyone's political gain, and we are prohibiting any political activity during the course of the payout.) 

Referral letters from elected officials are not required in the application process, and in cases where applicants provide referral letters, these do not guarantee cash aid for the beneficiaries. 

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President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. greenlit the implementation of AKAP in 2025 on a "conditional" basis, saying there must be a clear guidelines on who is eligible for the cash aid.

Sen. Imee Marcos earlier questioned the existence of funds for the program, saying it can be used for campaigning since there is no list of qualified beneficiaries.

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