The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao is targeting a total of 116,769 individuals in the Davao Region as it rolls out the distribution of the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance program.
The distribution, which started in July and will run until December, provides each qualified beneficiary with PHP2,000 in monthly aid.
“The initial payout is being conducted via manual distribution, while subsequent payouts will be provided through digital payment channels,” the agency said in data sent to the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.
Of the total, Davao de Oro recorded 15,640 beneficiaries, Davao del Norte, 23,780; Davao del Sur including Davao City, 31,865; Davao Occidental, 18,446; and Davao Oriental, 27,038.
The beneficiaries belong to Group 2, comprising poor and near-poor families identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System who do not receive benefits under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Walang Gutom Program. On Aug. 6, a total of 1,208 beneficiaries from this city received aid during a payout held at the Agdao Public Market.
DSWD-11 Assistant Regional Director for Operations Merlinda Paragamac shared that the program aims to provide UPLIFT assistance to 14,716 Group 2 beneficiaries in Davao City.
“The UPLIFT subsidy is very important because we are currently in a situation where there is hardship because of the oil price increase. This is timely in helping families who are most in need,” she added.
Paragamac said DSWD-11 will continue to conduct rounds in other barangays in Davao City for upcoming payouts until all qualified beneficiaries are reached and provided with the UPLIFT assistance.
Meanwhile, Jeffrey Ulaw, 32, a resident of the city, thanked the Marcos administration after receiving PHP2,000 under the UPLIFT program during the distribution activity on Aug. 6.
“This is a big help for our families, especially for our children. Thank you so much to our current administration for this assistance,” he said. (PNA)
