Some beneficiaries of Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP and some vloggers came to the defense of the program against those criticizing it.

Interviewed in some vlogs, some of the AKAP beneficiaries said the program has greatly helped their families.

Nico David’s vlog, a known social media personality, said there are similar programs in other countries that also provide assistance to minimum wage earners.

“Dapat hindi ito kontrabersyal dahil tulong ito ng pamahalaan sa kapos ang income,” (It should not be controversial because it is help coming from the government to those less in income), Nico David said.

For Facebook personality Silver Voice, “Kailangan ng mga kababayan ang AKAP, (Our kababayan needs AKAP).”

Silver voice, another vlogger said in the vernacular AKAP is addition to their small income, and there is nothing wrong with it.

While in the vlog of the Models of Manila, they said they do not see anything wrong with the handing out of AKAP to the people.

They said in their post that it is people’s money and it is just proper to give it back to them in the form of AKAP.

To recall, former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio questioned the purpose of AKAP, saying it is now being used as the “pork barrel” of lawmakers.

“It resembles. It is actually a pork barrel. Kaya lang, inayos nila na the congressmen, the senators, have no say in recommending,” Carpio said in an interview with NewsWatch Plus on Thursday, 26 December.

The accusations were immediately denied by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on 27 December, saying the legislators do not have any say with AKAP since it is the DSWD personnel that distribute the assistance funds to the people.

“They (lawmakers) can only recommend kung saan kailangan magbigay ng AKAP assistance at wala ring pakialam ang mga barangay officials dito,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

Records of the DSWD showed around five million people benefitted from AKAP from January to 26 December 2024.

AKAP aims to provide financial assistance to below minimum wage earners and vendors.