MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced an expanded cash assistance program that will provide up to P12,000 to 7.5 million poor and low-income households to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices and the increasing cost of basic goods.
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| Photo courtesy: Facebook/Bongbong Marcos |
In a recorded message released on Thursday, Marcos said the assistance will be distributed through the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, which will be implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The President said the expanded program is expected to benefit around 37.5 million Filipinos nationwide as the government responds to the economic effects of global oil supply disruptions linked to renewed tensions in the Middle East.
Under the program, 1.5 million low-income workers and their families with verified Social Security System (SSS) records will receive P2,000 per month from July to December, totaling P12,000 each.
Another 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) will also receive P2,000 monthly over the same six-month period.
Meanwhile, 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program will receive a one-time cash assistance of up to P2,000.
Marcos said the expanded UPLIFT program aims to help Filipino families cope with rising living costs while preserving their purchasing power and protecting livelihoods amid global economic uncertainties.
He added that the government will distribute the financial assistance through digital platforms to ensure faster, more efficient, and more convenient delivery to beneficiaries.
The additional assistance forms part of the government's response under Executive Order No. 110, which placed the country under a one-year national state of energy emergency due to volatile global oil prices.
Malacañang, however, clarified that the latest cash aid package will prioritize poor and low-income households, with no financial assistance currently planned for middle-class families because of budget limitations.
— The Summit Express
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