SIQUIJOR ,Siquijor (PIA) — A total of 786 Siquijodnons have availed of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) since May to June this year.
This amounts to a total of P2,358,000 worth of assistance extended to the qualified beneficiaries who have been affected by the high inflation rate and those who fall under the low-income category.
DSWD social welfare and development officer and team leader Divine Grace R. Lescias said AKAP aims to provide financial assistance specifically in Siquijor, where the new minimum wage for non-agricultural establishments is set at P420 and P415 for agricultural and non-agricultural establishments.
Of the 390 beneficiaries, 78 were from Enrique Villanueva, 150 from Larena, and 162 from San Juan.
They each received P3,000 for the month of May.
Enrique Villanueva will hold their pay out for 396 beneficiaries in July for the month of June.
Speaking during the Second Quarter Provincial Convergence Committee Meeting on June 25, Lescias clarified that the AKAP is a recently adopted program that was launched in May 18, 2024 and will continue to identify recipients until November this year.
She said that in order to qualify for the AKAP program, beneficiaries must have a job but earn a low income.
“Dapat naay trabaho pero gamay ang income unya sa usa ka panimalay at least duha ang makaapil,” she said.
(They should have a job but with low income. At least two members of a household can avail of the program.)
She said AKAP targets beneficiaries who are not part of other major social assistance programs such as the 4Ps, Senior Citizen Social Pension, and the Assistance to Individuals in Crises Situation (AICS) .
“Ang pwede maka avail are those beneficiaries nga dili apil wala makaapil sa 4Ps, Senior Citizen Social Pension and katong nakaapil sa AICS,” she added.
(Those who can avail are beneficiaries who are not part of the 4Ps, the Senior Citizen Social Pension, and those who have not yet availed of AICS.)
AKAP offers various types of assistance, namely: P1,000 to P150,000 for medical; P5,000 to P100,000 for funeral; P10,000 for casualty; P2,000 to P10,000 for food; and P2,000-P10,000 for cash relief.
Lescias said proof of income is required, with specific documents needed for both the formal and informal economies.
“Sa individuals that are covered or included , pwede moattend ang barangay captain or association president nga the family has low income,” she said.
(For individuals that are covered or included, the barangay captain or association president can attest that the family has a low income.) (CAG/PIA7 Siquijor)
