President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday announced the expansion of the administration’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT), by providing additional financial support to millions of low-income Filipinos affected by rising fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East.

In a recorded video message from Singapore, Marcos said the government continues to take action to help Filipino families cope with rising fuel costs and rising prices of basic goods.

News reports said that diesel prices could go up as high as P10 a liter on Tuesday following the four days of bombing by the United States on Iran after the latter said it closed the vital Strait of Hormuz.

“Kapag tumataas ang gastusin, mas bumibigat ang pasanin ng bawat pamilyang nagsisikap tugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan, lalo na ang mga Pilipinong nasa laylayan ng lipunan,” Marcos said.

Building on the program established through Executive Order No. 110, the President said the government is rolling out UPLIFT Assistance, which is expected to benefit 7.5 million households or around 37.5 million Filipinos nationwide.

“Pangungunahan ang programang ito ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) kasama ang iba pang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan,” the President said.

Under the expanded assistance, 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program will receive a one-time additional cash assistance of up to P2,000.

The government will also provide support to 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), as well as 1.5 million low-income workers and their families validated through the Social Security System (SSS) database.

Beneficiaries under the CBMS and SSS will receive P2,000 per month from July to December.

The President assured the public that the assistance would be delivered quickly, efficiently, and conveniently through digital channels. Presidential News Desk-PHS