The national government has identified that it needs at least P155 billion for a comprehensive package of assistance programs meant to cushion the impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on Filipino workers and key sectors, officials said.
Department of Budget and Management (DBM) spokesperson Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the amount is a preliminary estimate for the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT), which consolidates relief and support measures across agencies.
Speaking at a briefing in Malacañang, Libiran said the funding requirement remains flexible as agencies continue to review programs, identify savings, and realign resources to prioritize urgent interventions.
She clarified that the estimate, based on an initial assessment by the Office of the Executive Secretary, does not represent a final budget.
“This is not a fixed amount. This remains a dynamic and evolving funding envelope,” Libiran said, noting that the government is maximizing existing resources under a whole-of-government approach.
The UPLIFT package includes fuel subsidies, cash assistance for transport workers, farmers and fisherfolk, fare discounts, tax relief on kerosene and LPG, and repatriation support for overseas Filipinos affected by instability in the Gulf region.
Since tensions escalated in late February, the government has rolled out measures to help ease rising fuel costs and economic pressure on vulnerable sectors.
Libiran also highlighted the launch of a dedicated UPLIFT website that consolidates information on assistance programs, funding allocations, and ongoing government responses.
The platform, developed through inter-agency collaboration, aims to improve transparency and provide a centralized source of verified information. It will also include a feedback feature for public concerns and will remain active as long as the crisis persists.
In a related development, Japan reaffirmed its support for the Philippines’ economic and energy resilience during a recent meeting in Malacañang.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, now Supreme Adviser to the Parliamentary Association of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), expressed Tokyo’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Manila.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is set to visit Japan later this month, thanked Tokyo for sustaining its commitments despite global energy disruptions.
He also underscored the Philippines’ push to accelerate renewable energy adoption and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, while expressing hope for de-escalation in the Middle East.
Earlier in the day, the President led the distribution of rice assistance in Leyte and inaugurated a P12 billion irrigation project expected to benefit over 1,800 farmers.