Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo said Friday the Marcos administration’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance Program reflects policy measures long advocated by the House of Representatives through the Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Energy and Development (LEAD).

Quimbo, who chairs both the House Committee on Ways and Means and the LEAD panel, said the rollout of the UPLIFT program complements initiatives advanced by the House under the leadership of Speaker Bojie Dy to help cushion Filipino families from rising living costs.

The UPLIFT program, launched by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., is expected to provide direct government assistance to an estimated 7.5 million households as part of the administration’s efforts to help vulnerable families cope with inflation while protecting jobs, livelihoods, and the broader economy.

According to Quimbo, the LEAD panel has pushed the proposed Kalinga bill, which seeks to ease inflationary pressures through targeted assistance, tax reforms, and interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.

“Through LEAD, the House has consistently pushed for practical, targeted, and fiscally responsible measures that ease the burden on families while supporting long-term economic resilience,” Quimbo said in a statement Friday.

“We welcome this same commitment reflected in the national government’s UPLIFT program, set to serve and benefit millions of Filipinos.”

Under the UPLIFT program, financial assistance will be distributed to three beneficiary groups.

About 3.5 million households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program will receive a one-time PHP2,000 assistance.

An estimated 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS), but not covered by the 4Ps or the Walang Gutom Program, will receive PHP2,000 per month from July to December this year.

Meanwhile, approximately 1.5 million low-income workers and their families, identified through Social Security System (SSS) records, will likewise receive PHP2,000 monthly from July to December this year, subject to program guidelines.

The assistance package forms part of the administration’s broader efforts to protect consumers’ purchasing power, stimulate household spending, and strengthen domestic economic activity amid continuing global economic uncertainties.

Quimbo said targeted social protection and responsible economic policymaking must go hand in hand.

“Our objective has always been clear: to ensure that government assistance reaches those who need it most while maintaining fiscal discipline and supporting sustainable economic growth. UPLIFT is a concrete example of how coordinated action between the Executive and Congress can deliver meaningful relief to millions of Filipino families,” he said.

The UPLIFT Assistance Program is being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with other government agencies, with beneficiary identification and distribution mechanisms tailored to each eligible group. (PNA)