KAMANGGAGAWA Partylist Representative Eli San Fernando on Monday called for ayuda programs to be removed from the control of politicians and criticized the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) for failing to present updated poverty thresholds during the budget briefing with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC).
On Ayuda Programs
San Fernando hit discretionary cash aid programs such as AKAP, AICS, and MAIP, which he said are “susceptible to political influence” and prone to patronage. He pointed out that even DBM admitted that programmatic interventions like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are more effective and transparent.
“It would be more prudent to re-allocate resources towards programs with clearer targeting, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms,” San Fernando said. “We need to move away from fragmented, discretionary-style aid and consolidate resources under accountable frameworks that are more transparent and truly reach the people.”
San Fernando added: “Kung seryoso tayo sa social protection, alisin na sa kamay ng mga pulitiko ang ayuda. Okay na mawala ang AKAP kung ililipat naman ang pondo sa mas malinaw at programmatic na interventions. Ayuda should not be used as political leverage. It must be a right, not a favor.”
DBM Secretary Pangandaman agreed, saying her office will prioritize assistance programs that have an existing legal mandate, such as the 4Ps.
San Fernando welcomed the commitment, stressing that Congress should play a proactive role in steering funds away from politically vulnerable aid programs and towards accountable, programmatic social protection. “This is about ensuring every peso counts, not for patronage, but for the people.”
On Poverty Thresholds and Policy Figures
San Fernando also confronted DEPDev Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, for failing to provide updated figures on the food poverty threshold and the minimum monthly income needed for a family to survive decently.
“Last year, then-NEDA said that the food poverty threshold is 64 pesos per day per person. Senator Poe said you would release an updated study come May 2025. What is the updated food poverty threshold, Mr. Secretary?” San Fernando asked.
Balisacan admitted there were still no updated numbers, only an ongoing review by PSA and other agencies.
San Fernando warned that this lack of clear policy benchmarks weakens the entire budget process.
“Ang laking problema niyan. So, ano ang basis ng gobyerno para sabihing mahirap o hindi ang isang tao? Paano pauunlarin ang kabuhayan ng mga manggagawa’t ordinaryong Pilipino kung walang maayos at matibay na datos na pinagbabatayan?” he said.
San Fernando recalled testing NEDA’s 64-peso figure himself: “I have tried that, 64 pesos per day. Bumili po ako sa tindahan. Nagkautang pa po ako.”
He added that even on the question of how much a family of five needs to survive, DEPDev had no clear policy figure. “In 2018, then-NEDA Secretary Ernesto Pernia said a family of five needed ₱42,000 per month to live decently. Magkano na po ang kinakailangan ng isang pamilya para sila ay mabuhay ng disente sa isang buwan?”
Balisacan also admitted that there is still no official figure on how much a family of five needs to live decently, saying the data remains under review.
San Fernando stressed that without updated and credible poverty benchmarks, both the budget and social policies risk being detached from the lived realities of workers and ordinary Filipinos.
“Gumagawa tayo ng budget para itaas ang antas ng buhay ng mga manggagawa’t ordinaryong Pilipino. Pero paano bibigyan ng maayos na solusyon ng gobyerno ang kahirapan at kagutuman kung hindi nito alam sino ang mahirap at gutom?” San Fernando concluded.
