The Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) Program still has unused funds, according to Malacañang.

Citing the statement from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) still has an available allocation of about PHP13 billion for the implementation of the AKAP Program.

“The budget for AKAP is quite large. And out of the P27 billion allocated for AKAP in 2025, only P13 billion has been spent so far,” Castro told Palace reporters.

“There is still P13 billion left that can be used until the end of 2026,” she added.

Castro said budget proposals from various government agencies have surged to nearly P10 trillion for 2026, exceeding the government’s fiscal capacity.

As a result, the DBM had to prioritize agencies in need of immediate funding, Castro said.

“It's just necessary to prioritize the agencies that must be prioritized, which is most likely the reason [for zero allocation for AKAP for 2026,” Castro said.

Introduced in 2023, AKAP provides cash assistance to minimum wage earners and near-poor Filipinos to help tide them over the effects of inflation. 

PNA PHOTO