IN response to the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr., at least ₱360 million in Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) funds, family food packs, and other relief items have been allocated for immediate distribution to 36 congressional districts severely affected by Typhoon Crising and the intensified southwest monsoon.
The AKAP and relief assistance—facilitated through the office of reelected Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Speaker of the 19th Congress, in coordination with Tingog Party-list—will be released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Secretary Rex Gatchalian.
Each congressional district will receive ₱10 million in direct financial aid intended for residents affected by flooding, displacement, and other related emergencies.
“This is just the beginning of our coordinated disaster response. Malayo pa ang mararating ng tulong na ito at hindi pa ito ang huli. Ang importante, agad nating naramdaman ang pagtulong ng administrasyong Marcos,” Rep. Romualdez, a lawyer from the University of the Philippines (UP), said.
In addition to the financial aid, relief packs have been readied for mass distribution, including servings of Tingog hot meals for evacuees currently housed in schools, covered courts, and other temporary shelters.
“Nais nating iparating sa bawat apektadong pamilyang Pilipino na sa panahon ng kalamidad ay andito ang gobyerno ni Pangulong Marcos para tumulong. Lahat ito ay paalala na hindi kayo nag-iisa. Kasama ninyo kami sa bawat hakbang ng pagbangon,” Rep. Romualdez added.
The 36 congressional districts set to benefit from the ₱360 million AKAP fund and related relief efforts include those represented by:
Reps. Bienvenido Abante Jr., Tobias “Toby” Tiangco, Dennis “Alden” Almario, Dean Asistio, Arjo Atayde, Jorge Daniel Bocobo, Antonino Calixto, Joel Chua, Ma. Victoria Co-Pilar, Ricardo Cruz Jr., Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Edgar Erice, Jaime Fresnedi, Gerald Galang, Kenneth Gatchalian, Alexandria Gonzales, Monique Lagdameo, Giselle Maceda, Oscar Malapitan, Eric Olivarez, and Antolin “Lenlen” Oreta III.
Also among the recipients are the districts of:
Reps. Franz Pumaren, Romero “Miro” Quimbo, Roman Romulo, Mark Anthony Santos, Jesus “Bong” Suntay, Marcy Teodoro, Irwin Tieng, Ralph Wendel Tulfo, Rolando Valeriano, Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas, Brian Raymund Yamsuan, Ysabel Maria Zamora, Gil Acosta, Jose Alvarez, and Rosalie Salvame.
Rep. Romualdez’s office and Tingog Party-list have also reactivated its Relief Coordination Desk, the same mechanism used to facilitate large-scale aid during the pandemic and previous typhoons. The desk serves as a central link between affected lawmakers, national agencies, and local responders.
In Marikina, many evacuees were served hot meals by Tingog volunteers, with more expected as river levels continue to rise. Similar operations were conducted in Quezon City and Manila.
Rep. Romualdez said the proactive move to allocate AKAP funds and relief goods reflects hard-learned lessons from past disasters where delays in response had serious consequences. He stressed the importance of readiness and coordination.
“Natutunan na natin ang hirap kapag huli ang aksyon. Kaya ngayon pa lang, naglatag na tayo ng tulong para hindi na kailangang maghintay pa ang mga kababayan natin,” Rep. Romualdez said.
Typhoon Crising brought days of torrential rain to Luzon and nearby provinces, overwhelming drainage systems, and displacing thousands of families. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has warned of more rainfall in the coming days. (
