A total of P139,812,000 were granted as financial aid to some 29,906 beneficiaries in Davao City, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte over the last four days under the flagship welfare Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and local partners conducted a four-day AKAP payout from October 18 to 21 upon the instruction of President Marcos to support low-income and vulnerable residents.
The payout kicked off on Friday in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, followed by events in Davao de Oro over the weekend, and culminated in Davao City on Monday, where former Civil Service Commission chair Karlo Nograles led the distribution.
Nograles served as the local coordinator for the Davao City payout, which provided P14.5 million in aid to 4,859 beneficiaries.
Romualdez emphasized that this initiative is a testament to the administration’s commitment to prioritizing the welfare of Davaoeños.
According to Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada, the four-day event highlighted the Marcos administration’s focus on providing timely assistance to marginalized sectors, especially in economically disadvantaged communities.
Gabonada said the distribution in Davao del Norte, held on October 18, saw a total of P48,625,000 in cash aid granted to 9,725 beneficiaries, each receiving P5,000.
These beneficiaries included teachers, non-teaching school personnel, mall employees, private hospital staff, and other low-income residents.
Local officials, including Vice Governor Oyo Uy and Rep. Alan Dujali, played pivotal roles in ensuring that the distribution was efficiently carried out.
Gabonada added that over the weekend, October 19 and 20, the AKAP distribution moved to Davao de Oro, where a total of P76,610,000 was distributed to 15,322 beneficiaries, also at P5,000 per recipient.
Beneficiaries in this area included barangay workers, school personnel, and other low-income earners.
Financially-challenged students were also beneficiaries of the payouts thru the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
Local leaders such as Rep. Maricar Zamora, Councilor Myrill Apit of Mawab, Vice Mayor Honeyboy Libuangan of Laak, and other community leaders from Maco, Mabini, and Nabunturan were instrumental in facilitating the smooth conduct of the payout in the province.
