House members to senators: Spare AKAP from people’s initiative controversy
LAWMAKERS from the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged senators to refrain from making baseless claims against the well-intentioned Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP), particularly regarding its alleged involvement with efforts to amend the 1987 Constitution through the people’s initiative.
In a press conference, lawmakers emphasized the necessity of safeguarding the integrity of the AKAP initiative given its crucial role in assisting low-income earners, amid what they labeled as “malicious” allegations against the program.
“For the knowledge of everyone, ang AKAP is a regular line item already in the GAA (General Appropriations Act). Meron siyang a total of P26.7 billion. And nor does it state that it’s going to be used for the people’s initiative. So, I don’t know. You cannot just immediately conclude that it is going to be used for that purpose,” Bataan 1st District Rep. Geraldine Roman said.
AKO BICOL Party-list Rep. Raul Angelo “Jil” Bongalon dismissed allegations linking AKAP to people’s initiative as “a big lie” and stressed the program’s noble intentions to support Filipino citizens in need.
“AKAP has full of good intentions at panawagan ko na lang sana huwag bigyan ng pangit na kulay,” Bongalon said.
House members responded to senators’ expressions of amusement at the existence of AKAP, which was allegedly being linked to enticing support for the people’s initiative.
Senator Imee Marcos, heading a Senate panel investigating the alleged controversy surrounding people’s initiative, claimed that AKAP is mentioned as part of various soft projects.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. vehemently denied any involvement of Speaker Romualdez in AKAP, highlighting that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has sole authority over the allocated funds, as stipulated in the 2024 national budget.
Gonzales also pointed out that senators, including Senator Marcos, had approved the program during the bicameral conference on the 2024 GAA, thereby relinquishing their right to criticize it.
“It would be absurd now for senators to be questioning the AKAP and other assistance funds included in the national budget and administered by the [DSWD] because they approved it,” Gonzales pointed out.
He added: “In fact, Senator Imee signed this committee report, this bicam. They are stopped from speaking against or criticizing what they have approved unless they tell us now that they voted yes without reading the budget or at least the conference committee report which is a summary of the outlay.”
Gonzales and Bongalon, both members of the bicameral conference committee, confirmed their signatures on a portion of the bicam report regarding the funding for AKAP.
Bongalon expressed bewilderment over attempts to politicize government aid programs, particularly linking them to the people’s initiative.
“Tanong ko na lang siguro, bakit po pilit na binibigyang kulay ang mga ayuda ng gobyerno at pilit po na ikinokonekta dito sa people’s initiative? Ayuda po ‘yan ng gobyerno. The last time I checked, it is the Executive Department who is the implementing agencies for these respective programs,” Bongalon said.
Emphasizing the continuity of government aid programs over the years, Bongalon mentioned long-standing initiatives like Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD), and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
“Bakit po ngayon bibigyan nila ng kulay at kami daw ang nag-iimplementa nitong mga programang ito? These are programs of different agencies of the government. Wala pong say dito ang mga House members,” Bongalon stressed.
“So yun lamang po ang aking kapaliwanagan para po hindi po mabudol ang ating taong bayan na pilit na pinapasama ang imahe ng mga kongresista,” he added.
For his part, 1-RIDER Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez shared insights from the minority perspective, expressing surprise at allegations of AKAP being an inserted item in the budget.
He emphasized the need for transparency and highlighted the involvement of both House and Senate members in the budget process.
“So ikinagulat po personally this representation sa allegation that this is an insertion on the part of the House,” Gutierrez said.
Gutierrez expressed disbelief at allegations suggesting House members acted without Senate knowledge in relation to AKAP.
“We were shocked to find out that they’re (senators) unaware of this AKAP,” Gutierrez said, as he underscored the program’s clear inclusion in the 2024 GAA.
“But it seems to be very clear, nakita po namin line item naman, may special provision pa nga po doon sa ating GAA for 2024,” he explained.
Gutierrez dismissed allegations connecting AKAP to the people’s initiative and emphasized its noble intentions.
“Di porket insertion po ito sa bicam, ibig sabihin may masamang intention. I hope we can do away with putting malice to that…We welcome AKAP kasi we do believe na maganda ang layunin nito,” Gutierrez said.
