President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced a new round of financial assistance for 7.5 million families, equivalent to about 37.5 million Filipinos, affected by rising fuel and commodity prices driven by renewed conflict in the Middle East.
In a video message, Marcos said the assistance would be distributed digitally to the poorest households, families within the poverty threshold and low-income earners nationwide under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport program.
The UPLIFT program is intended to protect the capacity of Filipino families to meet their daily needs amid increasing prices.
“Mga kababayan, patuloy natin nararamdaman ang epekto ng tensyon sa Gitnang Silangan na nagdudulot ng banta sa pandaigdigang supply ng langis. Nakakaapekto ito sa ating ekonomiya at presyo ng mga bilihin (My fellow citizens, we continue to feel the impact of tensions in the Middle East, which pose a threat to the global oil supply. This affects our economy and the prices of commodities),” Marcos said.
“Kapag tumataas ang gastusin, mas bumibigat ang pasanin ng bawat pamilyang nagsisikap tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan, lalo na ang mga Pilipinong nasa laylayan ng lipunan. Kaya naman patuloy tayong kumikilos upang mapagaan ang kanilang pasanin (When the price rises, the burden becomes heavier for every family striving to meet their needs—especially for Filipinos on the threshold of poverty. That is why we continue to take action to ease their burden),” he added.
Marcos said the Department of Social Welfare and Development would provide one-time cash assistance of up to P2,000 to 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Walang Gutom Program.
Another 2.5 million families identified as the poorest of the poor under the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System will also receive financial assistance.
Meanwhile, 1.5 million low-income workers and their families whose records have been verified by the Social Security System will receive P2,000 per month from July to December.
“Titiyakin ng pamahalaan na maipagkaloob ang tulong na ito nang mabilis, maayos, at mas maginhawa para sa mga Pilipino sa pamamagitan ng digital na pamamaraan (The government will ensure that this assistance is delivered quickly, efficiently, and more conveniently to Filipinos through digital means),” the President said.
“Sa ating pagkakaisa at pagtutulungan, mapapanatili natin ang katatagan ng ating bansa at maisusulong ang isang mas maunlad na kinabukasan para sa lahat sa ilalim ng isang Bagong Pilipinas (Through our unity and cooperation, we can maintain our nation’s stability and advance a more prosperous future for all under a New Philippines),” Marcos added.
In March, the government, through the DSWD, Department of Transportation and Department of Energy, provided cash and fuel subsidies to members of the transport sector.
The Department of Agriculture also extended fuel assistance to farmers and fisherfolk and offered affordable rice and other food products through KADIWA ng Pangulo outlets and other accredited markets.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Department of Budget and Management had released on Wednesday the Special Allotment Release Order and Notice of Cash Allocation amounting to P12.375 billion to fund the assistance for poor and low-income families.
Asked about possible relief for upper-low-income and middle-income households, Castro said the government’s budget remains limited and authorities are still studying measures that could benefit a broader segment of the population.
She said the government is trying to balance available resources with the most urgent needs of Filipinos.
Castro cited previously implemented measures that benefited other sectors, including discounted fares and toll-free access to highways.
She said the administration’s immediate priority is to assist those most in need.
“Tandaan po natin, ang budget ng gobyerno, ibinibigay, binabalanse sa mga dapat na mabigyan agad ng ayuda (Let us remember that the budget of government is being allocated and balanced with priority given to those who need immediate assistance),” she said.
“Hindi problema kung napakarami siguro nating budget, pero ang budget ngayon talagang pinagkakasya ng gobyerno. Lahat ginagawa, especially doon sa mas nangangailangan ng tulong (It wouldn’t be an issue if we had an abundant budget, but the government is currently making a concerted effort to stretch the available funds. Everything is being done, especially for those who are most in need of help),” she added.