KALAMANSIG, Sultan Kudarat — Thousands of families in this coastal municipality are getting a much-needed financial lifeline as they continue recovering from a string of disasters that disrupted communities and household livelihoods.
At least 5,159 poor and near-poor families from 15 barangays in Kalamansig are being assisted under the national government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program, according to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is facilitating the assistance, with qualified beneficiaries set to receive ₱2,000 every month from July through December 2026.
That means each beneficiary household could receive as much as ₱12,000 over six months, assuming the full scheduled assistance is released. Collectively, the six-month assistance represents approximately ₱61.9 million for the 5,159 households.
Aid Comes as Kalamansig Recovers From Multiple Disasters
The timing of the assistance is particularly significant for Kalamansig residents.
The municipality has recently dealt with the effects of a strong earthquake, flash floods, rain-induced landslides and fire incidents, according to the PIA report.
For families whose income and homes have been affected by these emergencies, the monthly cash assistance can provide immediate support for food and other basic necessities.
One beneficiary, agricultural worker Diomedes Mendoza of Barangay Sta. Clara, said he plans to use the assistance to purchase rice and meet his family’s daily needs.
Local officials likewise emphasized the importance of ensuring that national government assistance reaches vulnerable residents quickly and fairly.
Kalamansig Mayor Ronan Eugene Garcia said the local government is coordinating with national agencies to help ensure that government services and benefits reach communities affected by recent calamities.
Kalamansig Aid Part of a Much Bigger National UPLIFT Program
The assistance in Sultan Kudarat is not an isolated government payout.
The expanded UPLIFT program is designed to reach 7.5 million households nationwide, or roughly 37.5 million Filipinos, as the government responds to economic pressures linked to higher fuel and commodity prices.
GMA News reported that the nationwide program is divided into three major beneficiary groups:
- 3.5 million households from the 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program databases are set to receive a one-time additional assistance of up to ₱2,000.
- 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the PSA’s 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System are included in another group.
- 1.5 million low-income workers and their families, verified through the Social Security System, are included in the third group and are scheduled to receive ₱2,000 monthly from July to December.
Reports from other regions show that the ₱2,000 monthly assistance is already being rolled out.
Manila Bulletin reported that Group 2 beneficiaries are scheduled to receive ₱2,000 monthly for six months, bringing the potential total assistance per household to ₱12,000.
Why the Assistance Matters Beyond the Cash
For disaster-affected families, the value of the program goes beyond the amount printed on the assistance.
A household recovering from flooding, an earthquake or a landslide can face simultaneous expenses involving food, transportation, repairs and lost income.
The DSWD has described UPLIFT as targeted assistance intended to cushion vulnerable households against the economic effects of the energy crisis and rising prices.
The agency has also said that beneficiaries are identified using government databases rather than simply applying for the program.
In Kalamansig, the beneficiaries were identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). PIA reported that beneficiaries were pre-identified through government data and therefore do not need to apply or enroll to receive the assistance.
The Bigger Question: What Happens After December?
The immediate assistance provides breathing room, but the longer-term challenge remains.
The current UPLIFT cash assistance for the affected Kalamansig families is scheduled only through December 2026.
That makes the coming months critical for families still dealing with the economic consequences of disasters.
The government has positioned UPLIFT as a temporary measure designed to protect household purchasing power while families cope with higher costs and economic disruptions. PNA and GMA News reports likewise describe the expanded program as part of the government’s broader response to rising fuel prices and the economic effects of the Middle East crisis.
For Kalamansig, however, the challenge is twofold: families must recover from recent disasters while also finding ways to rebuild income and livelihoods once temporary assistance ends.
For now, the ₱2,000 monthly support gives 5,159 families across 15 barangays additional resources to put food on the table and meet basic household needs.
But the real measure of recovery will come after the aid stops—when these families must stand on their own again.
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