DSWD-7 launches UPLIFT financial aid to shield CV families from rising inflation

CEBU CITY — To protect vulnerable Filipino households from the sting of rising inflation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VII rolled out the national government's Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) assistance program across Central Visayas.  

Across Central Visayas, a total of 152,672 qualified household beneficiaries have been identified across 101 LGUs. Among these, 98,350 are situated in Cebu Province, while 54,322 are in Bohol.

The first wave of payouts was on July 20, delivering vital financial relief to families impacted by escalating fuel costs and economic ripples linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  

During the initial launch, DSWD-7 served 1,503 poor and near-poor households categorized under the program's Group 2 tier, providing each recipient with Php 2,000 in direct cash assistance.

Concurrently, rollout began for Group 1 beneficiaries, comprising families already enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).  

The initial rollout covered six key local government units (LGUs) in the region. In Bohol, the municipalities of Buenavista and Getafe with 400 beneficiaries, at 200 beneficiaries each town.

Cebu has registered the municipalities of Aloguinsan with 189 beneficiarie; Badian with 207; Borbon with 190 and Mandaue City with 205 beneficiaries.

To prevent political interference and ensure transparency, eligible beneficiaries were mapped out independently using data from the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), in partnership with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev).  

To ensure fast and transparent distribution, DSWD Field Office VII is leveraging its HAPSAY (Harmonized Actions and Processes for Swift, Accountable Yield) framework—the same streamlined strategy utilized for transport sector cash relief operations.

While initial payouts were distributed manually to verify identities and link preferred payment methods, subsequent disbursements are transitioning to digital distribution channels, including direct electronic bank transfers via Landbank and registered e-wallets.  

"By streamlining our processes, we ensure that beneficiaries can access their assistance promptly and without unnecessary delays," stated DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

What is the UPLIFT Program?

Established under Executive Order No. 110, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the UPLIFT framework was enacted as a whole-of-government initiative to safeguard purchasing power, maintain supply chains, and mitigate energy emergency shocks triggered by global developments.  

The program's social protection component, spearheaded by the DSWD, divides target beneficiaries into three distinct streams:

Group 1 are existing social safety net families such as the 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program under the DSWD National Database with One-time cash support.

Group 2 are poor and near-poor non-4Ps households identified through the PSA 2024 CBMS Data with monthly Php 2,000 cash aid.

Group 3 are low-income wage earners as listed from the SSS and 2024 CBMS Data with target wage protection subsidies.

By bridging the gap for low-income and "near-poor" families who often fall just outside standard social safety nets, the UPLIFT rollout aims to prevent over a million Filipino families nationwide from slipping below the poverty line amid global economic pressures. (Photos: DSWD7)