A lawmaker defended the funds allocated to the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) amid the assertions the cash assistance may be “very useful” come election season.

Last week, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa expressed his dismay over AKAP receiving a P26-billion funding while PhilHealth did not get an allocation in the 2025 national budget because it had a P600- billion surplus fund.

“Zero for PhilHealth but P76 billion for AKAP and AICS because with PhilHealth you will not be indebted to the politician but with AKAP and AICS you will be grateful to the politician. This is very useful these coming elections,” Dela Rosa wrote on Facebook.

Vice President Sara Duterte also made a similar claim.

AKAP is a form of financial assistance given to individuals and families facing economic hardship. It is intended to help those who have lost their jobs, have reduced incomes, or are affected by the high inflation.

In a radio interview, Lanao del Sur Representative and House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong said that AKAP is based on the demography and income index of Filipinos.

“The number of low-income earner households is bigger, the low-income earner families. Their earnings are just. They tend to also borrow from other individuals or organizations. So that’s where we see it,” Adiong said.

He explained that economic activities by low-income families generate the local economy as they know how to spend their money.

“The intention is really if they can use this up as to help out with their own expenses, probably especially that. Many of us, including drivers today, are low-income earners,” Adiong added.