LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has distributed ₱114 million in financial support to 57,105 beneficiaries under the second tranche of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program.
DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio confirmed Friday that the agency disbursed ₱2,000 in cash assistance per qualified household from September 14 to 24.
The relief effort follows executive directives to cushion low-income families from rising fuel and commodity costs triggered by global market fluctuations and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The assistance covered low-income and near-poor households identified through the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). Distribution totals across the region’s six provinces include:
- Camarines Sur: 17,011 beneficiaries
- Sorsogon: 12,446 beneficiaries
- Masbate: 12,315 beneficiaries
- Albay: 7,562 beneficiaries
- Camarines Norte: 5,333 beneficiaries
- Catanduanes: 2,438 beneficiaries
To streamline future disbursements, DSWD-5 is assisting recipients with digital account verification through on-site help desks.
“Along with the payout, we continue to encourage beneficiaries to have a verified bank account or digital wallet, such as a LandBank account, GCash, or Maya, to make the delivery of aid in subsequent payouts faster, safer, and more efficient until the end of the year,” Laurio said.
“Manual payout of the ₱2,000 assistance to Group 2 beneficiaries will continue until Oct. 16. This gives beneficiaries additional time to secure a National ID and enroll their bank or e-wallet accounts for the release of succeeding assistance,” he added.