DSWD: UPLIFT program covers tax-paying 'near-poor' earners, not just the poorest

The government's expanded United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program will also cover tax-paying near-poor earners and not just the poorest, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Friday.

"Mabigat ang emphasis na ginagawa nito sa mga gitna, 'yung Group 2 [and] Group 3. Sila 'yung mga low-wage earners, 'yung mga kinikita, nababawasan ang payroll every month because of different taxes," DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

(This places a heavy emphasis on Group 2 and Group 3. They are the low-wage earners whose monthly payrolls are reduced because of various taxes.)

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. announced earlier that the DSWD has expanded its UPLIFT program to extend financial assistance to indigent Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.

The expanded program is envisioned to benefit 7.5 million households or 37.5 million individuals, with beneficiaries classified into three groups.

Beneficiary categories

Group 1 beneficiaries refer to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program members who will receive a one-time additional assistance of up to P2,000. They comprise 3.5 million households.

Group 2 beneficiaries are poor households that are not 4Ps members, and refer to 'near-poor' households that are just slightly above or 25% above the poverty line. They comprise 2.5 million households.

"[Sila 'yung] isang kalamidad, isang krisis, isang sakuna, isang sakit sa pamilya ay maaaring bumaba na sila into poverty, below the poverty line," Gatchalian said.

(Just one calamity, one crisis, one disaster, or a single illness in the family could instantly push them down into poverty, below the poverty line.)

Beneficiaries under Group 2 were determined through the Community-Based Monitoring System (CMBS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority. Gatchalian guarantees no political interference took place in the selection of beneficiaries.

"Now, pano po natin sila tinukoy? Again, walang political interference, wala tayong kinuhang listahan sa kahit na kaninong government official o kahit na kaninong public official. Hinango natin 'to, tulad ng binanggit ng ating pangulo, mula sa CBMS," Gatchalian added.

(Now, how did we identify them? Again, there is no political interference; we did not secure a list from any government or public official. We lift the list, just like what the President said, from the CBMS.)

Group 3 beneficiaries, meanwhile, are SSS members whose monthly salary credit is P20,000 and below. They comprise 1.5 million households.

Groups 2 and 3 beneficiaries are set to receive P2,000 in the next six months, or until December 2026.

According to the DSWD, the value of the P2,000-cash aid was determined based on the Asian Development Bank's fuel energy emergency simulation and the department's own simulation conducted with the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

"The whole purpose bakit P2,000 kasi pinipilit natin i-restore 'yung nawawalang purchasing power nila because of inflationary effects," Gatchalian said.

(The whole purpose of setting the P2,000 amount is to restore the purchasing power they lost due to inflationary effects.)

Citing a PIDS study, the DSWD said 14.880 million Filipinos were categorized as poor before the energy crisis, warning that this number could balloon to over 16 million if no intervention is made to address rising energy costs.

"Ibig sabihin, kung wala tayong pagkilos na gagawin lalaki ito nang almost 16.222 million, lolobo siya. Ibig sabihin, maraming mahirap na lalalim sa kahirapan at 'yung near-poor mo na binanggit kanina babagsak 'yon paloob sa kahirapan," Gatchalian said.

(This means that if we do not take action, this number will expand to almost 16.222 million—it will rise sharply. In short, many poor Filipinos will sink deeper into poverty, and the near-poor we mentioned earlier will fall below the poverty line.)

"With this intervention, mapipigilan natin 'yung mga mahihirap na lalong lumalim sa kahirapan at 'yung mga near-poor na tinatawag natin, 'yung nakalabas na sila, lower-middle class," he added.

(With this intervention, we can prevent the poor from sinking deeper into poverty, and protect the near-poor—those who have already made it out and are now part of the lower-middle class.)

Through the UPLIFT Program, the DSWD aims to shield 1.2 million near-poor Filipinos from falling below the poverty line.

The DSWD has scheduled the payout for Group 1 beneficiaries on Tuesday, July 21, while payouts for Groups 2 and 3 will follow later that same week.

Automated payout

The UPLIFT program will implement an automated payout system.

Beneficiaries will receive their P2,000 financial assistance through:

• Group 1 - their existing LandBank accounts
• Group 2 - preferred digital wallet or bank account
• Group 3 - SSS disbursement account

However, Group 2 beneficiaries will be required to physically claim their financial assistance for the first payout. This will help the DSWD verify that the beneficiary is still alive and enroll their preferred account.

"So, alam natin na-validate natin na totoong tao siya, kukunin na rin naman 'yung digital wallet niya o 'yung e-wallet niya… Para pagdating nu'ng next succeeding payouts through their e-wallets na or Landbank account kung anuman ang meron sila," Gatchalian explained.

(So, we know and have validated that they are real people, and we will also get their digital wallets or e-wallets... so that for the succeeding payouts, it will be sent directly through their e-wallets or Landbank accounts, whichever they have.) — VDV, GMA News