Last January 3, 2025, three Cabinet members gathered to discuss the guidelines for “Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program” (AKAP), an initiative designed to be a safety net for “near poor” or low-income Filipinos. The meeting complies with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who called for the creation of new guidelines for the conditional implementation of AKAP this year.
The meeting included Secretaries Rex Gatchalian, Bienvenido Laguesma, and Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), respectively. It was held at the NEDA head office in Pasig City.

Top Government Officials Meet to Refine AKAP Guidelines
According to Secretary Gatchalian, the creation of new guidelines for AKAP was decided in order to come up with “more stringent measures that will pacify the fears of our taxpayers that their money will be used for politics,” a DSWD press release reported.
Moreover, a refined intake form will be developed for the program. Although DSWD social workers have always been careful and thorough in screening beneficiaries, the new form will help determine if a potential beneficiary is truly affected by inflation. Of course, they will continue to conduct interviews and collect supporting documents as part of the screening process.
The creation of this new intake form goes in line with President Marcos’ message regarding AKAP, wherein he stressed that the program “intends to address the significant strain of inflation to the financial capacity of those who earn less than minimum wage.”
Secretary Gatchalian added: “In case of the social welfare intake, lalabas doon if affected nga ba ng effects ng inflation ang pagtaas ng bilihin yung client (it will show if the client is affected by the effects of inflation and the rising cost of goods).”
Notably, the heads of DOLE and NEDA agreed with the DSWD chief, stating that the new guidelines and form will ensure that only “rightful” beneficiaries would be able to receive assistance through AKAP, thus addressing public concerns about the program.
Latest Updates on AKAP Guidelines
Aside from the new intake form, other refinements and provisions that will be part of the new AKAP guidelines are:
- Setting a ceiling on the number of household members who can avail of AKAP assistance, thereby minimizing cases of duplication;
- A statement declaring outright that AKAP is “insulated” from politics, just as all DSWD programs and other government programs are excluded from politics; and
- Inclusion of consequences for fraudulent activities (e.g. forging and submission of fake documents and beneficiary lists, cutting of disbursed assistance, etc.).
Meanwhile, the provision of referrals for potential beneficiaries will be retained. Secretary Gatchalian clarified that referred clients, along with their documents, would still be subject to the assessment of social workers and the agency’s strict process.
“Anybody can refer, pero yung social workers pa rin and the result of interviews and assessment ang masusunod (but it is the social workers and the result of interviews and assessment that will be followed) at the end of the day,” Secretary Gatchalian emphasized.
Role of DOLE and NEDA in AKAP
As for the role of DOLE in the program, Secretary Laguesma stated that the agency will provide information about potential beneficiaries, as well as the standard wage rates across the country. “We will help with the information through the region, sa kanilang (their) regional wages and productivity,” he said.
Meanwhile, Secretary Balisacan mentioned that NEDA will be focusing on monitoring and evaluating the implementation of AKAP. “Sa amin, ang role ng NEDA every program (For us, the role of NEDA in every program), we will provide monitoring and evaluation,” the NEDA chief explained.
He also said that the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an attached agency of NEDA, will provide necessary information. PSA data can be used to help check the number of people working in the family, and who among them are minimum wage earners.
Other than the three Cabinet members, the meeting on January 3 was also attended by DSWD Undersecretaries Adonis Sulit and Monina Josefina Romualdez; PSA Undersecretary Claire Dennis Mapa; and NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon.
Almost 5M Pinoys Benefited from AKAP Last Year
During the first year of implementation of AKAP from January to December 2024, almost 5 million Filipinos benefited from the program. “The AKAP program has demonstrated strong impact with PHP 26.157 billion in funds, or 99.31 percent utilization rate, from the total PHP 26.7 billion budget allocation for 2024,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said, as cited in a press release.
The AKAP fund was allocated across the Philippines, with almost all regions attaining more than 99 percent utilization rate. Notably, Region 2 (Cagayan Valley), Region 11 (Davao), and Region 13 (Caraga) all reported 100 percent utilization rate.

About the AKAP Program
AKAP is a program that seeks to help minimum wage and low-income earners who have been greatly affected by rising inflation. Before the recent refining of AKAP guidelines, the program’s previous set of guidelines had been stipulated in the DSWD’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 30, Series of 2024, which was signed last August 9, 2024, a press release stated.
Documentary Requirements
Based on the guidelines released last year, the documentary requirements for joining the AKAP include the following:
Formal Economy:
- Duly signed Contract of Employment;
- Certificate of Employment with Compensation (COE);
- Income Tax Return (ITR) or BIR Form 2316; and
- Duly signed Audited Financial Statement, or a Certificate of Tax Exemption.
Informal Economy:
- Certification from direct employer;
- Certification from government offices recognizing certain sectors or groups;
- Association certification; and
- Business permit or barangay certification (in case of small business owners).
Aside from the above, a Social Case Summary or Social Case Study Report from the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO) is also required. This must be signed by a registered social worker and include a certificate of attestation or notarized affidavit of low income (whichever may be applicable).
Assistant Secretary Dumlao added: “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.”
NOTE: As of this writing, the latest AKAP guidelines have not yet been released, so please note that the above list of documentary requirements may be changed.
Assistance Provided
AKAP provides different types of assistance, such as medical, funeral, food, and cash relief. These are given through the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Units/Sections (CIU/S) in the agency’s Central Office, Field Offices, Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Offices, and Satellite Offices across the Philippines.
AKAP assistance may also come in form of cash or a guarantee letter (GL). Furthermore, the program may be implemented in coordination with Local Government Units (LGUs) in the barangay, municipal, city, or provincial levels, nationwide.
Final Thoughts
Amid increasing inflation and the rising cost of goods, AKAP comes as a timely support, especially to minimum wage earners and low-income Filipinos who are not part of other government programs. Check out this link to read more about the DSWD’s Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).