Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa has expressed the importance of giving the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sole discretion to distribute AKAP (Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program) and other social aid programs of the government.
While he explained that he is not opposed to the distribution of aid to the poorest of the poor, the Mindanaoan lawmaker stressed that the distribution should be handled by the said department and not politicians.
This, as he warned that AKAP and other social assistance programs might be used to get people’s vote, especially considering the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.
Dela Rosa is among the senators who questioned the allocation of AKAP under the 2024 national budget
“Kung tutuusin sana, kung out of the picture ang pulitiko dyan, totally ha, let the DSWD do it, distribute it– that is government’s money, that is people’s money, ibigay ‘yan sa taumbayan– then without the presence of the politicians, without the politicians’ intervention, napakaganda sana,” he said.
“Pambili ng boto ‘yan. Ano pa ba ang isipin natin… Talagang ginawa ‘yan ng House of Representatives for their own consumption, for whatever kung anong gusto nilang gawin, pero DSWD pa rin ang nag-iimplement…I strongly oppose that particular item in the budget,” he added.
Amid the possible use of AKAP in the 2025 national and local elections, Dela Rosa then urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prohibit the distribution of financial aids during the campaign period.
“Most likely, it will influence your decision come election day…So, dapat ipagbawal ng Comelec ito,” he said.
The former top also said he has no problems if his office will not be given allocations from billions of funds for AKAP under the 2025 national budget.
The lawmaker made the remark amid the reported P5 billion AKAP allocation for senators’ distribution for 2025.
“I will not take it. Kahit na hirap ako sa eleksyon, kahit na wala akong pampalubag loob doon sa kung sinong dapat lulubagin natin ng loob, I will just appeal to their moralities na wala akong maibigay sa inyo,” Dela Rosa, a reelectionist in the 2025 midterm polls, said.
“Sabihan ko ‘yung liderato ng Senado na ibigay na lang ‘yan sa ibang mga senador. ‘Wag na lang ako isama ” he noted.
Dela Rosa is among the senators who questioned the allocation of AKAP under the 2024 national budget. Doubts on the purpose of the program were first raised during the Senate’s investigation into the controversial people’s initiative when it was found out that the DSWD did not propose the said program.
