Laoag City—Approximately 17,000 residents of Ilocos Norte are slated to receive cash aid totaling PHP71 million on Wednesday, as part of the national government’s Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will lead the distribution event, which will take place at the Laoag City Centennial Arena for the 10,000 beneficiaries from District 1, and at the Mariano Marcos State University gymnatorium for the 7,000 from District 2. Beneficiaries are set to receive amounts ranging from PHP3,000 to PHP5,000, determined by an assessment of the documents they provided to their respective congressional representative’s offices in coordination with the DSWD.
Local resident and ambulant vendor Antonio Agustin expressed his appreciation for the program. “This is a big help for us to sustain our livelihood,” Agustin noted, sharing that he had obtained an aid application through village officials and received certification as one of the low-income families in his village.
The AKAP initiative, which received a substantial allocation of PHP500 billion under the 2024 national budget, targets various groups in need, including solo parents, fisherfolk, and vendors, as part of the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty.