President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced a new round of financial assistance for about 7.5 million families, or 37.5 million individuals, from vulnerable sectors affected by rising fuel and commodity prices amid renewed conflict in the Middle East.
In a video message, Marcos said the assistance would be distributed digitally to qualified beneficiaries nationwide under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport, or UPLIFT, program.
The initiative is intended to help Filipino families meet their daily needs as higher oil prices place additional pressure on household expenses.
“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 prices rise, the burden becomes heavier for every family striving to meet their needs—especially Filipinos on the threshold of poverty. That is why we continue to take action to ease their burden),” he added.
The President said the Department of Social Welfare and Development would provide one-time cash assistance of up to ₱2,000 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.
Marcos said 1.5 million low-income workers and their families whose records have been verified by the Social Security System would receive ₱2,000 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.