Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Ilocos Region (DSWD-1) has provided cash relief to 817 household-beneficiaries under the expanded Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program as of July 27, the agency reported Tuesday. Of the total, Pangasinan beneficiaries totaled 11,695, Ilocos Sur (1,694), La Union (374), and Ilocos Norte (54), each receiving the initial monthly assistance of PHP2,000.
According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-1 Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan stated that the beneficiaries are classified as poor and near-poor (those 25 percent above the poverty threshold) as determined by the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System of the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development. Each household beneficiary will receive PHP2,000 from July to December this year; the first payout will be in person or via manual transfer, and subsequent payouts will be through a digital platform.
"President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. introduced this in response to the energy crisis to help those at the poverty line through cash relief assistance under the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICs) program," Gopalan added. The program aims to mitigate the economic impact on vulnerable communities by providing financial support that can help sustain basic needs.
Other beneficiaries include members of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) and individuals listed in the Walang Gutom Program (WGP). Recipients under the 4Ps will receive only a one-time PHP2,000 cash assistance in their Land Bank of the Philippines or GCash accounts, while WGP beneficiaries will also get the same aid through manual payouts during their scheduled food redemption periods.
Additional recipients include individuals from low-income households who are validated or verified through the Social Security System. The initiative reflects the government's ongoing commitment to support its citizens in times of economic hardship, ensuring that the most vulnerable populations receive necessary aid.
