Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
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 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Inflation has reduced the purchasing power of many Filipino workers, leaving many of 
them and their families barely surviving on a day-to-day basis, if not completely living in a state 
of perpetual poverty. While the respective Regional-Tripartite-Wage-Boards are performing their 
functions diligently in looking after workers’ rights and have thus been central to regional wage 
increases, increments still fall short of providing a living wage for workers that will enable them 
to lead decent lives and provide ample support for their families.  
Amid the continued demands of labor groups for a justified living wage, demanded 
wages are deemed too high by businesses, not to mention that it could cost the Philippines losing 
its competitive edge in labor and the exodus of jobs.  
As part of the government’s response to combat inflation and as an alternative means to 
solve the wage quandary, the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program has been implemented through 
the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This bill seeks to institutionalize AKAP as 
a regular government program, to ensure its continued implementation. 
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November 11, 2024
1:33 pm


In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is urgently sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
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 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. – It 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) which provides 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;
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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; 
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: 
 
1. Food Assistance 
2. Medical Assistance 
3. Funeral Assistance 
4. 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 of rice based on the suggested 
retail price from the Department of Agriculture (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,