DSWD Releases Cash Aid to Help Families Face Fuel Cost Hikes

According to PIA, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 1 distributed financial assistance to 118 beneficiaries in Santol, La Union on July 23, 2026, under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program to help low-income households handle rising fuel costs.

The beneficiaries each received P2,000 during the initial round of manual distributions organized alongside local government units. The nationwide initiative targets approximately 2.5 million poor and near-poor households affected by ongoing increases in fuel prices.

Program recipients were selected through the Community-Based Monitoring System, which is managed by the Philippine Statistics Authority and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development.

Key implementation details of the distribution include:

• Initial payout amount: P2,000 per recipient household
• Target coverage: 118 identified residents in the mountainous town of Santol
• Distribution schedule: Initial in-person distribution followed by monthly digital releases through December

DSWD FO 1 Regional Director Marie Angela S. Gopalan stated that the UPLIFT program extends social protection to vulnerable families located in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Local recipient Elpidio J. Bati, 60, confirmed that the financial support offers direct relief for his family by allowing them to purchase basic food items.

The government will transition all remaining payouts from August through December to digital payment channels to make social assistance more accessible for remote communities in La Union.

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SOURCE: PIA