Malacañang: P22.7-B gov't savings to be used for Filipinos affected by Middle East crisis

Citing the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Malacañang said Thursday that the government has amassed P22.7 billion in savings that could be used to assist Filipinos who were affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said this in a press briefing when asked about the government savings following the DBM’s issuance of National Budget Circulars 602 and 603.

“Ngayon may savings na P22.79 billion… At sa ngayon po kaya po in-announce itong circulars ay para ipanawagan doon sa mga agencies na i-identify nila at i-declare kung saan nila maaaring magamit ito,” she said.

(There are savings amounting to P22.79 billion… The reason for announcing these circulars is to call on the agencies to identify and declare where these savings could be used.)

“Pero ang priority po dito ay ang UPLIFT at ang kabuhayan po at mga pagtulong sa ating mga magsasaka. Kasama na rin po dito ang pagprotekta sa ating mga pamilyang Pilipino, workers, commuters at mga OFWs na nakaranas po ng medyo hindi magandang sitwasyon dahil dulot po ng krisis sa Middle East,” she added.

(But the priority here is the UPLIFT and the livelihood and assistance to our farmers. This also includes protecting our Filipino families, workers, commuters, and Overseas Filipino Workers who were affected by the crisis in the Middle East.)

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced that the government has expanded the United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program, providing financial assistance to indigent Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.

Through the UPLIFT Assistance, the President said that 7.5 million households or 37.5 million Filipinos nationwide will receive cash assistance from the government.

Castro said that the P22.7 billion savings funded the P12.57 billion released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the UPLIFT Assistance.

“At muli, ang mga savings na ito ay gagamitin po sa UPLIFT interventions para DMW, DOTr, mga DOE programs. Ito po ay most probably mas maibibigay doon sa mga apektado dahil sa krisis sa Middle East,” she explained.

(These savings will be used for UPLIFT interventions for the DMW, DOTr, and DOE programs. Most likely, these will be allocated to those affected by the crisis in the Middle East.)

The DBM issued the two circulars in April and May, respectively, to direct national agencies to pool surplus and unused money to fund economic and energy-crisis relief programs, specifically the expanded UPLIFT. —RF, GMA News