Manila: Not all households listed in the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) qualify for cash assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) clarified Thursday. Speaking at a press conference, PSA Western Visayas Regional Director Nelida Amolar highlighted the rigorous processing and validation that CBMS data undergo before submission to the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev).

According to Philippines News Agency, Amolar explained that the data is assessed through proxy means test modeling to categorize households as poor, near-poor, or non-poor. Once processed, the validated list is returned to the PSA central office and shared with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), whose field offices conduct an additional layer of validation.

"CBMS is a survey of the economic characteristics of every household. It captures indicators such as income, access to health care and education, among others, to determine poor and near-poor families," Amolar said. The information derived from the CBMS is crucial for identifying beneficiaries of the UPLIFT program, which offers a one-time PHP2,000 grant to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and Walang Gutom beneficiaries, and a six-month subsidy for poor and near-poor households.

Amolar further mentioned that the CBMS results have been distributed to local government units throughout Western Visayas. Since participation in the CBMS is voluntary, she urged households to partake in the survey during its next round scheduled for 2027.