Ayuda: Pork barrel in new form

CHEERS TO TV5’s Frontline Pilipinas for its explainer that showed up financial assistance or “ayuda” as a new form of “pork barrel” – a practice that has been ruled by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional as it involves the legislature in the responsibilities of the executive department.
TV5’s anchor and “explainer” Ed Lingao said so on his own, presenting the facts that show how financial dole-outs, while under the Department of the Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), do engage lawmakers in the actual distribution of financial aid.
Taking credit for aid
Lingao started with the Supreme Court 2013 ruling that decided “pork barrel” as unconstitutional. He argued that pork barrel has taken a new form.
The Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) was his first example. Describing it as last-minute insertion in the budget bill for the last two years, Lingao said it is implemented by the DSWD, which crafted the guidelines for screening beneficiaries and distributing the aid.
Lingao included DSWD’s statements denying AKAP as pork barrel and prohibiting the participation of politicians in the distribution of aid; but provided evidence to show politicians at the front and center of payout activities. The report showed screenshots of press releases and social media posts of House representatives handing out the aid themselves. Lingao also added posts in social media with local government officials thanking not the DSWD but lawmakers, particularly House Speaker Martin Romualdez, for AKAP.
Lingao went on with “ayuda” as pork barrel in the Senate. While the Senate questioned AKAP, senators were themselves participating in another DSWD assistance program — the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS). He showed photos of Senator Imee Marcos leading the aid distribution, as well as screenshots of press releases from the offices of Senators Robin Padilla and Bong Go claiming that the fund came from them and was only distributed through the DSWD.
The explainer said that AICS received PHP35.1 billion for 2025, while AKAP received PHP26 billion divided between the House and the Senate.
Other news organizations should follow up on the issue. So far, the DSWD has not said or done anything to complain about the politicians’ participating and even taking over aid distribution events. But the department is expected to release “tighter” AKAP guidelines this January to ensure that it won’t be used for political gains. The president’s approval of the budget imposed conditions on the implementation of AKAP. Reporters should check these guidelines not just for effective safeguards but for loopholes.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections has exempted the department from the ban over government aid and assistance during the prescribed electoral period; but prohibited politicians from any involvement in these activities.
The situation will challenge the role of media as a watchdog. There is a lot to check and scrutinize. Media will have to demonstrate the capacity of journalists to expose the political gamesmanship at play and inform the public about this current malpractice in Congress.