Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Gatchalian has reiterated that the funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICs) are sourced solely from the agency’s approved budget.
“Again, let me just state for the record, wala hong pondo ang congressman [na ginagamit para sa AKAP]. Yung ‘pondo ko,’ wala hong pondo ang congressman. These are department-disbursed funds,” Secretary Gatchalian told the members of the Senate Finance Committee during the deliberation of the agency’s proposed 2025 budget on Monday (October 14).
This was in response to the statement of Zamboanga City 1st District Representative Khymer Adan Olaso expressing disappointment after the DSWD Field Office 9-Zamboanga Peninsula called off a payout that was supposed to be held in his congressional district.
The congressman claimed that his ‘budget’ for the agency’s protective services programs was suspended due to politicking, along with the list of beneficiaries he referred to the DSWD for financial assistance.
Secretary Gatchalian quickly dismissed his claims and emphasized that the DSWD serves people in need, whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit (LGU) officials.
“As we speak right now, lahat ng opisina namin, anybody that walks into our office, pina-process ho yan. Now, that list, that referral list that’s given to us, I’ll get it from Congressman Olaso right now. We will look into it again. I will talk to the regional director na kausap niya, who happens to be a career social worker. Nandiyan na ho siya matagal na. Give me the list, I will talk to the regional director. Then if he says that the list is clean and it’s ready to be paid out kasi talagang kailangan, then we’ll pay it out,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
In a statement posted by the DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula, the Field Office explained that under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the DSWD holds the sole authority to implement AICS and AKAP.
There is no GAA line item that entitles one congressional district to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. However, referrals from legislators are entertained pursuant to existing guidelines, the DSWD Field Office statement read.
In an interview with Ted Failon, Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency applies a stringent verification and validation process for clients who seek financial assistance, even for referrals from legislators and other LGU officials.
“Tumatanggap tayo ng mga referrals, subject again, to the assessment of the social workers,” said Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson.
The assessment, which is done by licensed social workers, is critical to avoid the overlapping of assistance with other DSWD programs.
The DSWD spokesperson also highlighted that while the agency actively coordinates with LGU executives and officials to organize payout activities, the funding for AKAP and AICS come from the agency’s budget alone.
“Lagi nating pinapaalala na malinaw kung masabi na ang sinasagawang payout activity ng DSWD ay programa ng DSWD at ang pondo ay galing nga po sa DSWD,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
