In Davao City, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 11 announced on Tuesday that it has disbursed approximately PHP1.6 billion through the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) throughout 2024. This initiative has supported 355,194 people in the region by offering medical, funeral, food, and cash assistance through various channels including Crisis Intervention Units, off-site payouts, and Malasakit Centers. Out of the total recipients, 67,607 were assisted at the regional and provincial offices, whereas 284,771 received help through off-site distributions. Additionally, 2,816 individuals were aided through requests made at Malasakit Centers. DSWD-11 detailed that 87.9 percent of the aid, equating to PHP1.12 billion, was allocated for food assistance, benefiting 312,209 people. Meanwhile, 10.35 percent, or PHP394 million, was used for medical assistance, reaching 36,793 beneficiaries. The department has pledged to extend its support into 2025, focusing on aiding minimum wage earners and low-income workers who are struggling with the effects of high inflation. AKAP is designed to provide financial relief to those whose incomes are below the minimum wage and are significantly impacted by the increasing cost of living.
