Ayuda, whether 4Ps, AICS, TUPAD or AKAP, consists of government aid or financial assistance programs that address issues such as poverty, hunger, inflation, unemployment or underemployment for families and vulnerable individuals barely able to make ends meet.

Given the undeniable insufficiency of current minimum wage rates to cover daily subsistence costs for an average family, ayuda for the poor and vulnerable may well be necessary and justifiable. Why? Because the alternative might be worse. In 2022, the minimum wage in the National Capital Region (NCR) was P537.

Today, it stands at P645 — a 20 percent increase in just three years. Each minimum wage increase triggers corresponding price hikes across all goods and services. Imagine the impact on small- and medium-scale businesses if Congress approves the pending proposal for a P200 across-the-board wage increase.

Setting aside potential constitutional violations regarding budgetary priorities (currently under Supreme Court review) and the criminal misuse of funds through ghost beneficiaries, ayuda programs — when properly awarded to qualified recipients — are not entirely without merit. Fairness demands acknowledging that these programs have actually delayed demands for additional wage increases.

With election season underway, we must remember that existing regulations prohibit and punish exploiting government resources like aid distribution to protect electoral integrity. Government agencies are barred from implementing programs and releasing funds during the election ban period. Unfortunately, the Comelec has exempted many ayuda programs from this ban.

From influencing beneficiary lists to misrepresenting their roles in aid distribution, unscrupulous politicians will exploit every opportunity to capitalize on voters’ “utang na loob (debt of gratitude).” However deplorable, ayuda will be shamelessly used to curry public favor. We cannot blame people enduring sweltering heat or pouring rain to claim government assistance. Whether this proves an effective vote-buying tool will only become clear after the May 2025 elections.

While ayuda programs have alleviated financial burdens caused by rising prices for low-income families, they remain temporary band-aid solutions at best. Meanwhile, we must continue demanding government accountability for economic improvement, job creation, and quality-of-life enhancements. Should we encourage dependence on dole-outs? How long can the government sustain ayuda without damaging fiscal health and our struggling economy?

Ultimately, ayuda programs are not long-term solutions. They cannot replace well-studied policies and careful planning. The government must intensify efforts to revitalize our economy through sound fiscal policies, corruption reduction, good governance, and political stability, among other measures.