Ayuda, social welfare programs 'helpful' - polls

For most Filipinos, financial aid programs and other social welfare initiatives of the government are helping underprivileged sectors, recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia surveys showed.

- By JANVIC MATEO

The surveys, commissioned by the Stratbase Group, gauged public opinion on various government social welfare programs, including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) and Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

Criticisms of the aid programs are focused on politicians distributing the ayuda and taking personal credit in aid of their election campaigns.

Billions in AKAP funds were also inserted by Congress at the last minute in the 2025 national budget although AKAP was not in the spending program of the executive, while P50 billion was cut from the 4Ps budget.

The SWS Jan. 17 to 20 poll showed that respondents aware of the programs generally view them positively.

Ninety percent of those aware of the 4Ps view it as either "very helpful" or "somewhat helpful."

Only nine percent said it was either "somewhat not helpful" or "not helpful at all."

Eighty-eight percent of respondents said TUPAD, which provides temporary employment to marginalized workers, is either "very helpful" or "somewhat helpful" to underprivileged Filipinos.