HOUSE leaders yesterday said the OCTA Research survey showing that 79 percent of adult Filipinos are aware of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP) program and 69 percent support its continuation and expansion is a vindication from allegations that Speaker Martin Romualdez and his allies are politicizing the program to woo voters.
Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe said the survey prove that the program has mass support despite criticisms thrown against it by detractors, especially coming from the camp Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Ang survey na ito ay nagpapatunay na alam ng masa ang halaga ng ating programa (This survey proves that our masses know the importance of this program),” Dalipe said. “Imbes na paninira ang pinag-aaksayahan ng panahon, bakit hindi tayo magtulungan upang mapabilis ang pag-abot ng tulong? (Instead of wasting time on mudslinging, why don’t we work together to expedite giving out public assistance)?”
Of the number in favor of AKAP, 69 percent were from the National Capital Region, 74 percent were from Balance Luzon, 63 percent were from the Visayas region, and 66 were from Mindanao.
Sixty-nine percent were from the upper social class ABC, another 69 percent were from social class D, and 69 percent were from social class E.
Octa Research has said adult Filipinos who agreed to continue and expand AKAP were higher in urban areas (72 percent) than in rural areas (66 percent). It was also higher among females (72 percent) than males (67 percent).
Thirty-one percent of the respondents were not in favor of AKAP’s continuation and expansion, with 31 percent from the NCR, 26 percent from Balance Luzon, 37 percent from the Visayas, and 34 percent from Mindanao. Thirty-one percent of them came from social classes A, B, C, D, and E.
Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr. of Pampanga said strengthening AKAP and other similar aid programs “aim to address the real struggles faced by Filipinos and ensure that no one is left behind.”
He said the strong survey result would prod lawmakers to continue funding the program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) annual national budget, stressing that “community engagement is central to the planned reforms.”
“The people have spoken. I call on the leaders of the country to listen to them. We have to make AKAP fast and efficient so that the masses can really feel the government’s care and empathy,” he said in Filipino.
Deputy Speaker David Suarez lamented that the program was used by detractors of the Marcos administration to discredit the program.
“Sa nakaraang mga araw at buwan, nilalamon ng maruming pamumulitika ang kabutihang dulot ng direktang tulong para sa mga taong araw-araw na nakakaranas ng gutom at hirap. Kahit pa ganoon, datos na ang nagpapakita — siraan man nila ang AKAP, ramdam ng tao ang tunay na pakinabang nito (In the previous months, politics overshadowed the benefits of the direct assistance to the people who are experiencing hunger and poverty daily),” he said.
