House Speaker Martin Romualdez launched the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) mall tour on Tuesday, benefitting over 53,000 mall employees and tenants’ employees in four large SM Supermalls in Metro Manila.
The activity enabled the House leader and fellow lawmakers present to deliver a total of P268.5 million in financial aid to qualified beneficiaries.
Romualdez said the AKAP mall tour was in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for a whole-of-government approach to address the impact of inflation and rising costs of necessities and help minimum wage earners, low-income workers, and those financially distressed cope with the present economic challenges.
A total of 53,715 beneficiaries in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, and SM Fairview received P5,000 each under the program.
According to Deputy Secretary-General Sofonias Gabonada, the activity not only provided financial relief to the beneficiaries but also served as a driver for economic activity in the malls and local businesses, making sure that support reaches Filipinos who are most in need.
Gabonada said the registration process for AKAP beneficiaries was simple: eligible workers are required to register online at the Bagong Pilipinas platform and present their Bagong Pilipinas ID.
Romualdez said the initiative was a joint effort between the national government, local officials, and the private sector.
For his part, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon pushed for the retention of AKAP in the 2025 national budget amid proposals in the Senate to remove its funding.
Bongalon, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, said AKAP supports those earning less than P21,000 per month—an often-overlooked sector that struggles to make ends meet despite employment.
The Senate Finance Committee earlier recommended excluding AKAP from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s 2025 budget.
The panel suggested reallocating funds toward other DSWD programs, like the Sustainable Livelihood Program and Quick Response Fund and highlighted the need for initiatives in flood-prone areas.
