Ilocos norte: Beneficiaries of the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program in Ilocos Norte have expressed their gratitude to the national government following the launch of extended cash assistance at the Capitol auditorium on Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Corazon Cabaloan, an 80-year-old widow from Barangay Caaoacan, shared her surprise and gratitude upon learning she was among the more than 100 identified beneficiaries of the program, as listed by the 2024 Philippine Statistics Authority's Community-Based Monitoring System. Cabaloan expressed her appreciation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for the assistance, which she plans to use for her maintenance medicines. She emphasized the difficulty of relying on her seven children, who are themselves raising families, for financial support.
Construction workers Mon Galacgac and Rowen Bercero from Pinili towns also voiced their appreciation for the assistance, describing it as an unexpected blessing. Bercero noted the ability to purchase essential items like rice and vegetables, while Galacgac mentioned the aid provides temporary relief during the current economic crisis.
Earlier, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the UPLIFT assistance, targeting three groups of beneficiaries nationwide. This includes 3.5 million households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Walang Gutom Program, 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the PSA Community-Based Monitoring System, and 1.5 million low-income Social Security System members. Eligible households under the 4Ps and WGP will receive a one-time cash aid of PHP2,000.
In the Ilocos Region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported 65,704 beneficiaries under Group 2, comprising poor or near-poor households. DSWD Ilocos Norte head, Winona Ablog, explained that the beneficiaries belong to poor and near-poor households identified by the CBMS results. For the program's initial rollout, cash is distributed manually, while future disbursements will be transferred digitally via Gcash or Landbank accounts.
Ilocos Norte 2nd District Rep. Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba attended the launch, highlighting the cash assistance extension as a reflection of the Marcos administration's dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals and families through responsive social protection programs. He emphasized the initiative's role in helping beneficiaries overcome economic challenges and encouraging participation in livelihood and self-sufficiency programs.
The UPLIFT program is part of the government's broader strategy to alleviate poverty and enhance the well-being of disadvantaged sectors by providing timely financial support and access to complementary services.
