Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1865

HOUSE BILL No.

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE CONEJOS PANOTES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The granting of Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) by the Department of Social
Welfare and Development's (DSWD) was mandated under the Special Provision No. 3 of the
General Appropriations Act of 2024. The paramount objective of the Program is to provide
financial assistance to minimum wage earners falling under the category of low income that were
severely affected by rising inflation.

Many of qualified beneficiaries of this Program have been clamouring that this shall be
made a permanent fixture of the government's assistance to low-income earners who had been
severely affected by the skyrocketing cost of prime commodities.

Through this Program, the government, through DSWD extends, in the form of outright
cash, food assistance, medical assistance, funeral assistance and cash relief assistance, and
through the local government units, rice assistance, also in the form of outright cash, to purchase
rice in order to meet the nutritional requirements for sustenance. The amount of assistance is
subject to certain requirements and limitations prescribed under this Act.

Due to the immense success of the Program in alleviating the plight of the vulnerable and
disadvantaged minimum wage earners, there is a need to make this permanent that whoever
will govern the country, the granting of AKAP will continue so that the target beneficiaries and
their families needing immediate intervention may have access to basic services from the
government.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate approval of this important piece of
legislation is earnestly sought.

RosEMARI A MEIOS PANOTES

Representative
Second District, Camarines Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House BILL No._1865

Introduced by: HONORABLE ROSEMARIE CONEJOS PANOTES

AN ACT

INSTITUTIONALIZING THE GRANTING OF AYUDA SA KAPOS ANG KITA PROGRAM (AKAP) OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT (DSWD), AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS.
THEREFOR

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita
Program (AKAP) Act.”

‘SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. — \t is hereby declared the policy of the State to affirm labor
as a primary social economic force and to protect the rights of minimum wage earners and
promote their welfare. Toward this end, the disadvantaged workers, and families must be lifted
from the quagmire of poverty by providing assistance geared towards alleviating and improving
the quality of life of every worker, especially the minimum wage earners.

SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:

a. Akap - refers to the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that will provide financial assistance
to minimum wage earners falling under the category of low income;

b. Beneficiary - pertains to an individual whose income does not exceed the
statutory minimum wage and who is severely affected by the rising inflation;

c. Case Summary - pertains to a document prepared by any professional social
worker that shall state the socio-economic situation of the client or
beneficiary, as well as his or her assessment and recommendation for said
client or beneficiary;

d. Certificate of Eligibility (CE) - refers to the document issued by the DSWD,
proving that the client is eligible to receive the services under the AKAP;

e. Crossmatching - refers to the process of checking the information or data sets
provided by the beneficiary or representative and counter-checking it with the
information and data sets in the DSWD database;


f. General Intake Sheet (GIS) — refers to the form used by the DSWD social
workers to obtain basic information of the beneficiary and the authorized
representative, the problem presented, and the assessment and
recommended assistance;

g. Guarantee Letter (GL) — refers to a document issued by the DSWD in favour of
the beneficiary addressed to service providers to guarantee the payment of
goods or services;

h, Minimum Wage Earners - refers to the low-income individuals earning
minimum wages mandated by the respective Regional Tripartite Wgae and
Productivity Board (RTWPB) of the Department of Labor and Employment
(DOLE);

i. Service Providers — refers to hospitals, funeral homes and other service
providers such as but not limited to, diagnostic laboratories, clinics,
drugstores, among others which are willing to accept the Gls issued by the
DSWD for payment of goods or services for the beneficiary; and

j. Social Case Study Report (SCSR) - refers to the document prepared by a
professional Social Worker in public and private practice, that describes in
detail the situation and conditions of the beneficiary, including his/her social
history. The document likewise includes assessment, plan for intervention and
recommendation.

SEC. 4, Modalities in Providing Assistance under the Program. - The grant of
financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries shall be implemented through the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and through its partner, local
government units subject to the following guidelines:

‘A. Implementation through the DSWD

The qualified beneficiaries who need financial assistance for goods and
services may avail of the following:

a) Food Assistance

b) Medical Assistance
c) Funeral Assistance
d) Cash Relief Assistance

Financial Assistance may be given in outright cash if the amount of
assistance ranges from five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to P15,000.00), subject to
the assessment of the DSWD worker. For assistance above fifteen thousand pesos
(P15,000.00), the same shall be provided through a Guarantee Letter approved by
the Secretary of the DSWD or his duly authorized representative.

The distribution of assistance is without prejudice to adoption of digital
payment solutions once the necessary infrastructure is in place.

B. Implementation through Local Government Units

The financial assistance that will be provided to qualified beneficiaries
through the LGUs shall be called rice assistance. This form of assistance shall be
used to purchase rice to meet the nutritional requirements for sustenance. For
this purpose the DSWD shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the
local government units to provide the details of the transfer of funds and the
requirements for its liquidation, in accordance with the existing budgeting,
accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

The amount of rice assistance that can be provided to qualified
beneficiaries shall be equivalent to half of the cost of twenty-five (25) kilograms


(DA). The amount of each transfer to the LGU shall not exceed Thirty million pesos
(P30,000,000.00).

The financial assistance under this Act may complement any support
provided by the LGU, government agencies, and non-government organizations.
A beneficiary who has received rice assistance through the LGU may still qualify to
receive medical, funeral or cash relief assistance from the DSWD subject to the
requirements under this Act, and professional assessment of the DSWD social
worker.

SEC. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DSWD shall promulgate the necessary rules and
regulations to implement this Act.

SEC. 6. Appropriations. The amount necessary to implement this Act shall be
charged against the appropriations of the DSWD of the year following its enactment into
law and thereafter.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders or issuances,
administrative orders, rules and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with this Act are

hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly.

Approved,