The House of Representatives, under the leadership of Speaker Martin Romualdez, launched the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) mall tour Nov. 12, benefitting over 53,000 mall employees and tenants’ employees in four large SM Supermalls in Metro Manila.
A total of P268.5 million in financial aid was received by qualified beneficiaries.
Romualdez said the AKAP mall tour is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos’ call for a whole-of-government approach to address the impact of inflation and rising costs of basic necessities, and help minimum wage earners, low-income workers, and those financially distressed cope with the present economic challenges.
It is designed to reach thousands of mall employees, their tenants, and agency hires working in the largest shopping malls across the country. On the day of the mall tour, 53,715 beneficiaries in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, and SM Fairview received P5,000 each under the AKAP program.
Deputy secretary general Sofonias Gabonada said the activity not only provides financial relief to the beneficiaries but also serves 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 is simple: eligible workers are required to register online at the Bagong Pilipinas platform and present their Bagong Pilipinas ID.
He added that scanners are deployed at mall employee entrances to validate their eligibility. Upon validation, they will receive a notification indicating their payout schedule and other documentary requirements.
Romualdez explained that the initiative is a joint effort between the national government, local officials, and the private sector.
As of Nov. 12, the number of registered beneficiaries across the four participating malls has reached 16,766 registrants in the Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA – 13,632; SM Megamall – 12,789; and SM Fairview with 10,528 registrations.
These numbers are expected to grow as the tour expands nationwide, Gabonada said in a press release from the Office of Romualdez.
The successful implementation of the program is made possible through partnerships with local government units and various congressional offices.
Following the launch in Metro Manila, the AKAP mall tour will expand to other shopping malls in the region and eventually across the country. This expansion will ensure that more Filipinos can access the much-needed financial aid, contributing to their economic resilience amid challenging times. ||
