Philippines rolls out PHP2,000 UPLIFT cash aid to families and workers

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Bicol region began distributing PHP2,000 cash assistance to more than 8,000 poor and near‑poor households under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program. DSWD‑Bicol chief Michael Jerome Bellena said the initial manual payouts will later shift to digital wallets or bank accounts, covering an estimated 181,263 households across Legazpi City and the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Sorsogon, Masbate and Catanduanes.

Separately, the Social Security System (SSS) announced that the UPLIFT cash aid will be released to qualified members nationwide before the end of July. The program targets 1.5 million low‑income SSS members whose monthly salary credit does not exceed PHP20,000 and who meet contribution and registration requirements. Recipients will receive the PHP2,000 directly into their savings accounts, with payments slated to continue through December.