The Middle East conflict greatly affects the Philippine economy in many ways. Oil prices continue to rise, while many overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have returned home due to safety concerns. To protect Filipinos, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 110 on March 24, 2026, declaring a state of national energy emergency.
The declaration includes the establishment of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), a framework designed to ensure the welfare of all citizens, delivery of basic services, domestic energy supply, and continuity of economic activity. The framework is overseen by the UPLIFT Committee, led by the President of the Philippines as Chairman. Its Members consist of the Executive Secretary, and the Secretaries of several national departments, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DSWD UPLIFT Cash Assistance
As part of the UPLIFT framework, the DSWD is currently implementing the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program, providing financial aid to 7.5 million vulnerable households across the country from July to December 2026. Beneficiaries include the poor, near-poor, and low-income households.
Beneficiaries and Payouts
Beneficiaries of the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program are classified into three groups, as follows:
Group 1: 4PS and Walang Gutom Program Beneficiaries
This group, comprised of 3.5 million households, includes existing beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP). Each household will receive a one-time cash assistance of PHP 2,000 under the UPLIFT Program.
Group 2: Poor and Near-Poor Households
This group, which covers 2.5 million households, are categorized as “poor and near-poor.” Beneficiaries are identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), which was conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Each household will receive PHP 2,000 every month, from July to December 2026.
Group 3: Low-Income Workers
This group, covering 1.5 million households, is comprised of “low-income workers.” Eligible beneficiaries include: Social Security System (SSS) members belonging to the employed sector; with a Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) of PHP 20,000 or below; have paid at least one SSS contribution in 2025 or 2026; and have an enrolled SSS disbursement account as of April 30, 2026. Their names should also appear in the 2024 CBMS.
Similar to the previous group, each household under this category will receive PHP 2,000 per month, from July to December 2026.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
Registration and Distribution
According to the DSWD, there is no application or registration needed for the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program, since qualified beneficiaries have already been identified through existing databases, namely SSS records and the 2024 CBMS of the PSA.
As for the distribution of cash assistance, the process varies among the three groups of beneficiaries:
- Group 1. Existing beneficiaries of 4PS and WGP will receive a one-time cash assistance of PHP 2,000 per household.
- Group 2. For the first monthly distribution, the cash assistance of PHP 2,000 per household will be given through manual payout. For the remaining five monthly distributions, cash assistance will be disbursed “digitally” through GCash, LandBank, or other ATM accounts.
- Group 3. Beneficiaries will receive PHP 2,000 per month for six months, to be deposited directly to their enrolled SSS disbursement accounts.
Image Credit: Department of Social Welfare and Development – DSWD / Facebook
Important Reminders
- Since beneficiaries for the UPLIFT Program have already been identified, the DSWD is not accepting applications from the public.
- Beware of any individuals or groups offering “registration” to the program, as these are likely to be scams.
- Think you should be included? If you believe you are qualified for the program, but your name is not on the beneficiary list, you can contact the DSWD or local government unit (LGU) personnel in charge in your area. They can help verify if you are in the 2024 CBMS records.
For more details about the UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program, go to the nearest Municipal or City Social Welfare and Development Office (M/CSWDO) for inquiries, or visit the UPLIFT official website.
Video: PBBM Announces UPLIFT Assistance
On July 16, 2026, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. talked about the UPLIFT Assistance Program, which aimed to reach 7.5 million households across the Philippines. Watch this video for his full announcement:
As the whole country — and the world — deals with surging oil prices, impending inflation, security concerns, and a “shaky” economy, the UPLIFT framework, through cash assistance and other interventions, seeks to mitigate the effects brought about by the Middle East conflict.
Notably, recipients of UPLIFT Cash Assistance include those who are part of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP). Read this article to know more about this program, and how it benefits vulnerable sectors.