3,000 yKalingas classified as ‘near poor’ receive P9M food assistance

Tabuk City, Kalinga - In recent months, the country has been experiencing price hikes on goods and services directly affecting the poor.

The latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that the country’s inflation rate increased to 3.4 percent in February 2024 from 2.8 percent in January.

Thus, to provide food assistance to those classified as ‘near poor’ residents, the national government crafted a new program named “Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program” (AKAP).

Under AKAP, ‘near poor’ or households that earn less than P23,000 per month shall be entitled to benefit from the program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, as the implementing agency, already implemented this program in various provinces in the country.

As cited, the province of Kalinga is one of the recent beneficiaries of the program, where 3,000 of its residents were provided P9 million in aid.

Each recipient received P3,000 in cash from the DSWD - Kalinga during the AKAP payout held recently in two different venues, particularly at the Kalinga State University gymnasium, and at the Pasil Evacuation Center.

The given cash is expected to be used for particular goods as well as for paying school bills.

In the coming days, the program shall likewise benefit other residents who were not included in the first payout.