The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) announced Thursday that the distribution of one-time PHP 2,000 cash assistance to all 3.5 million beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Food Stamp program will be fully completed by Friday, July 24.
This financial relief is part of the broader Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program, designed to assist 7.5 million poor and low-income Filipino households in cushioning the economic impacts of rising geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran.
In an interview with state-run PTV on Thursday, July 23, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained the rollout for the country’s most vulnerable sectors.
“’Yung mga 4Ps beneficiaries natin at ‘yung mga Walang Gutom: Food Stamps beneficiaries sila ‘yung pinakamahirap sa ating lipunan, makakatanggap ng karagdagang 2,000 pesos — one time… In fact, kaka-credit lang and by tomorrow, tapos na ‘yung 3.5 million na benepisyaryo matatanggap na nila kasi through their Landbank accounts ‘yan,” Gatchalian said.
Ongoing Aid for Non-4Ps, Near-Poor, and Low-Wage Earners
Beyond the initial 3.5 million 4Ps and Food Stamp recipients, the DSWD confirmed that aid distribution is also actively underway for other tiers of vulnerable Filipinos under the UPLIFT program:
- Non-4Ps and Near-Poor Families (2.5 million individuals): Eligible recipients will receive PHP 2,000 per month from July through December. While the initial payout is conducted manually, Gatchalian noted that succeeding disbursements will transition to digital e-wallets as enrollment finishes.
- Low-Wage Earners (1.5 million individuals): Workers earning PHP 20,000 and below registered in the Social Security System (SSS) database will receive monthly PHP 2,000 cash aid from July to December directly through their ATM accounts.
Government Response to Global Pressures
Addressing the necessity of the emergency financial assistance, the DSWD chief emphasized that while external global conflicts are out of the administration’s control, protecting local vulnerable sectors remains a top priority.
“Hindi naman natin ginusto pero wala tayong choice kasi hindi natin kontrolado. Pero ang kontrolado natin maportektahan ang ating mga kababayan, ang mga vulnerable, ang mga near-poor, low-wage earners natin,” Gatchalian stated.
Beneficiaries belonging to the first wave are advised to check their Landbank accounts by Friday, July 24, as the DSWD wraps up the initial phase of the UPLIFT cash aid rollout. /Clarence Pacaña
