Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Francis Orcio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is preparing new rules to ban politicians from participating in cash aid payouts, aiming to insulate social protection programs from political influence.</p><p>“We are currently drafting an amendment to the AICS (Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation) guidelines. Kapag mag-payout na ang DSWD, hindi pwedeng may politiko. Hindi rin pwedeng mamimigay ka ng polyetos, ng leaflets,” DSWD Undersecretary Adonis Sulit told reporters in a press briefing on Thursday.</p><p>Sulit said the draft rules will explicitly prohibit political personalities from appearing at DSWD payout events and ban distribution of campaign or promotional materials at those events, measures intended to prevent the use of aid distribution for partisan credit-claiming and to protect the integrity of government assistance.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AKAP BUDGET SCRAPPED</strong></div><p>The Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), the cash-aid initiative introduced in prior budget cycles, has no allocation in the Department’s 2026 proposed budget, a removal confirmed in budget hearings Thursday.</p><p>DSWD officials and lawmakers earlier warned the program’s removal could leave millions without the assistance they previously received.</p><p>Separately, the DSWD also confirmed that the budget for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program will shrink by P17 billion in 2026. From P44.7 billion this year, funding will be reduced to P27 billion.</p><p>According to Sulit, these funding shortfalls could potentially affect at least seven million current beneficiaries.</p><p>“Iyong AKAP alone is P26 billion (scrapped budget), and then nabawasan ka ng P17 billion (budget cut for AICS), so, it’s less people to serve. Sa suma ng DSWD, may pitong milyon na nase-serve ngayon. Pero, next year, hindi na sila mase-serve. Kasi ito lang iyong pondo so far,” Sulit emphasized.</p><p>However, he clarified that the reduction was due to recalibration by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), not poor spending performance.</p><p>“As a rule, yes, use it or lose it. But here, the reduction is not because of poor absorptive capacity, but because it was restored to regular levels,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BOOST FOR OTHER PROGRAMS</strong></div><p>While AICS funding dips, other initiatives will receive increases. The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will be restored to full funding at P100.4 billion, up from P56.4 billion in 2025. The Supplementary Feeding Program will also expand coverage to 1.89 million children with an additional P930 million.</p><p>Sulit said the agency is also investing P3.1 billion in ICT infrastructure to modernize its operations.</p><p>Meanwhile, Sulit defended the agency’s spending record, citing a 97.87% obligation rate in 2024 and an early 83% obligation rate by August 2025.</p><p>“Ang DSWD is not in the business of saving the funds but it’s really to implement the programs and spend the programs appropriated by Congress,” he said.</p>

<p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is preparing new rules to ban politicians from participating in cash aid payouts, aiming to insulate social protection programs from political influence.</p>

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is preparing new rules to ban politicians from participating in cash aid payouts, aiming to insulate social protection programs from political influence.

DSWD eyes ban on politicians in cash aid distribution; crisis program faces major funding cut

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DSWD eyes ban on politicians in cash aid distribution; crisis program faces major funding cut

Francis Orcio,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 25, 2025 09:56 PM PHT

Read More:

DSWD

Rex Gatchalian

Irene Dumlao

Adonis Sulit

AKAP

AICS

Ayuda

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