By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez announced on Wednesday (11 December 2024) that the bicameral conference committee (bicam) on the 2025 national budget has retained the House of Representatives’ decision to allocate funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
Romualdez expressed gratitude to the senators for their support of AKAP and commended the committee on appropriations, chaired by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, “for successfully defending our budget proposals.”
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kapwa nating mga congressmen at sa Senate na sinuportahan nila ‘yung AKAP. Na-maintain at naibalik kaya tuloy-tuloy ang programa ng AKAP para sa mahihirap,” Speaker Romualdez, the main proponent of AKAP in response to the President’s call to ensure assistance for the people, told reporters during an ambush interview following the bicameral meeting.
“Iyun ang talagang hangarin nating lahat, tulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan sa kahirapan ng inflation at mataas na bilihin,” Romualdez said.
“Na-maintain, opo. Just as we proposed sa GAB po. Thank you.”
House Committee on Appropriations Chairman and Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co stated that AKAP has been allocated a total funding of P26 billion under the proposed 2025 national budget.
When asked about reports that senators would also receive AKAP, he responded, “Well, we can have arrangements now with the Senate po, we’re looking forward to that. We were supported by the Senate, so maraming salamat sa ating [mga senators].”
“Ito’y isang mahalagang programa para sa mga Pilipinong may trabaho ngunit hindi sapat ang kita. Tiniyak ng ating House panel na mananatili ang AKAP sa 2025 budget para tulungan ang ating mga kababayan,” the Speaker said in a separate statement.
“Ang AKAP ay isang anti-inflation measure na layong pigilan ang mga near-poor families na bumalik sa kahirapan dahil sa mga di-inaasahang pangyayari tulad ng sakit, pagkamatay, o kalamidad. Pinapakita nito ang pagpapahalaga ng Kongreso sa AKAP bilang lifeline ng maraming Pilipino,” he explained.
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