• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental got P22.2 million in AKAP, or Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program aid, which was simultaneously received on Saturday by 7,440 poor families, in separate venues.
The AKAP program is the national government’s response to help the near poor families affected by inflation, the increase in the prices of goods and services.
It aims to protect the purchasing power of the Filipino families, specifically targeting beneficiaries whose income do not exceed the statutory minimum wage and are severely affected by the rising inflation, and actually need the assistance, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
However, households receiving regular assistance under 4Ps and Social Pension are not qualified for the program,according to DSWD.
Each recipient got P3,000 in cash assistance.
In the 3rd and 5th districts of Negros Occidental, Representatives Jose Francisco Benitez and Emilio Bernardino Yulo, respectively, personally witnessed the distribution of AKAP assistance to beneficiaries, which was simultaneously carried out in Victorias City, and Hinigaran, Negros Occidental.
Yulo said that a total of P9,450,000 was released to 2,150 fisherfolks in coastal local government units of Himamaylan City, Hinigaran and Binalbagan. He said 54 fisherfolk associations in the three coastal local government units were the AKAP beneficiaries.
“We decided to choose the fisherfolks sector because they are a neglected sector when it comes to assistance from the national government,” the solon pointed out.
Of the total, 23 associations are from Hinigaran, 24 from Himamaylan City, and seven from Binalbagan. Yulo said “This is the first time that fishermen were given assistance from the national government.”
A total of 1,200 beneficiaries from Victorias City and E.B. Magalona also received P3,600,000 AKAP assistance, distributed at the Victorias City Coliseum also on Saturday.
A total of 1,313 beneficiaries benefited from AKAP, of which 744 are from neighboring Kabankalan City and 569 are from the town residents. The pay out was made at the Ilog town covered court.
The other 1,500 AKAP beneficiaries also received their financial assistance from DSWD personnel at the Brgy. Mansilingan gym in Bacolod City.
A total of P26.7 billion has been earmarked for AKAP’s implementation in the country this year.*
