PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced an expanded assistance package under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (Uplift) program for vulnerable sectors.
The targeted cash aid will be distributed to about 7.5 million households, or an estimated 37.5 million Filipinos, to help cushion the impact of continuing global oil supply disruptions. “The objective of this Uplift Assistance is to help ensure that Filipino families can continue to meet their everyday needs,” the chief executive said in Filipino in a recorded message. “We have expanded the program’s coverage so that more Filipinos can benefit from this assistance,” he said. Under the expanded Uplift Assistance, the government will provide a one-time cash aid of up to P2,000 to 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program. Another 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System will also receive assistance. On the other hand, 1.5 million low-income workers and their families with verified Social Security System records will receive P2,000 monthly from July to December. The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with other government agencies, will oversee the implementation of the program. The expanded aid comes as the collapse of a fragile peace agreement between the United States and Iran led to renewed hostilities, including US air strikes and a naval blockade following Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, raising concerns over global energy supplies and oil prices.In a separate Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said funding for the expanded cash aid would be sourced from the savings per National Budget Circulars 602 and 603 as approved per Office of the President. Asked if the government has enough resources to sustain the program given the volatility in the Middle East, Castro said the administration, particularly its economic managers, would continue monitoring the situation and reviewing the national budget. “We do not know what will happen in the coming days; things might turn out well,” she said. “That is precisely what is being studied. Once budget is available, it will be released immediately to help those most in need, while balancing the government’s funds,” she added.
