Around 7.5 million Filipino households are set to receive direct government assistance following the launch of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance Program by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., a key intervention aimed at helping vulnerable families cope with rising living costs while protecting jobs, livelihoods, and the broader economy.
The rollout of the UPLIFT program complements the policy measures advanced by the House of Representatives under Speaker Bojie Dy’s leadership and through the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Energy and Development (LEAD), presided over by Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo.
The LEAD initiative has pushed the Kalinga bill designed to cushion Filipino families from inflationary pressures through targeted assistance, tax reforms, and interventions that lower the cost of essential goods and services.
“Through LEAD, the House has consistently pushed for practical, targeted, and fiscally responsible measures that ease the burden on families while supporting long-term economic resilience,” Quimbo said.
“We see and welcome this same commitment reflected in the national government’s UPLIFT program, which is set to serve and benefit millions of Filipinos,” he said.
Under the program, 7.5 million households will benefit from financial assistance distributed through three beneficiary groups:
Group 1: Around 3.5 million households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Walang Gutom Program will receive a one-time ₱2,000 assistance.
Group 2: About 2.5 million poor and near-poor households, identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) but not covered by 4Ps or the Walang Gutom Program, will receive ₱2,000 per month from July to December 2026.
Group 3: Approximately 1.5 million low-income workers and their families, identified through Social Security System (SSS) records, will likewise receive ₱2,000 monthly from July to December 2026, subject to program guidelines.
The assistance package forms part of the administration’s broader effort to protect purchasing power, stimulate household consumption, and strengthen domestic economic activity amid continuing global economic uncertainties.
Quimbo emphasized that targeted social protection and responsible economic policymaking must go hand in hand.
“Our objective has always been clear: to ensure that government assistance reaches those who need it most while maintaining fiscal discipline and supporting sustainable economic growth. UPLIFT is a concrete example of how coordinated action between the Executive and Congress can deliver meaningful relief to millions of Filipino families,” he said.
The UPLIFT Assistance Program is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with other government agencies, with beneficiary identification and distribution mechanisms tailored to each eligible group.
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