Akap stays in 2025 national budget; senators to have access – Poe

MANILA, Philippines – The controversial Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (Akap) survived the scrutiny of the Senate and the House of Representatives as it was kept in the 2025 budget bill after rigorous discussions.

However, the Akap fund was slashed to more or less P26 billion from an initial allocation of P39.8 billion.

In an ambush interview after the bicameral conference committee closed its final budget meeting on Wednesday, Senate finance panel chair Sen. Grace Poe revealed that senators now have access to the Akap fund.

“We talked about Akap. We all know that Akap is an initiative of the House of Representatives, so when it comes to that, they explained how this could help Filipinos,” Poe said in Filipino.

“This was heard and granted. But we agreed that we would reduce the amount. From an initial request of the House that stands at P39 billion, we could lower it to P26 billion or P20 plus billion,” she added.

Poe also explained that “as a co-equal body and for transparency, the Senate will now have the opportunity to help through Akap.”

Asked if it is true that the House will get P21 billion while the Senate will receive P5 billion from Akap, Poe said “more or less.”

Akap was an insertion made by the House in the 2025 General Appropriations Bill. It was not included in the National Expenditure Program that came from the Palace.

According to Poe, Akap would serve as an aid for minimum wage earners affected by various circumstances, including inflation.

The Akap funding earlier became controversial after it was linked to the signature campaign for charter change.

Sen. Imee Marcos alleged that it was one of the government grants used to lure Filipinos into participating in the so-called “fake” people’s initiative.

READ: Senate panel wants removal of budget for DSWD’s AKAP