MANILA, Philippines — More than 5.57 million poor, near-poor, and low-income households have now received financial assistance under the government’s Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Assistance, as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues the nationwide rollout.
The latest figure represents an increase from the 5.39 million households reported by the DSWD on August 17, when the agency said it had already disbursed more than ₱10.791 billion in initial assistance.
According to the latest figures reported on August 26, 3,201,142 households under Group 1 had already received the program’s ₱2,000 assistance. Group 1 covers beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP).
Meanwhile, 1,575,893 Group 2 beneficiaries had received UPLIFT assistance. This group consists of poor and near-poor households identified through official government records, particularly the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Who can receive UPLIFT assistance?
The expanded UPLIFT program was designed to cover 7.5 million households nationwide, divided into three major groups.
Group 1 consists of about 3.5 million 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program households. They are entitled to a one-time additional ₱2,000 assistance.
Group 2 covers around 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the PSA’s CBMS. Qualified households are set to receive ₱2,000 every month from July through December 2026.
Group 3 covers around 1.5 million low-income SSS members and their families. Qualified members have a monthly salary credit below ₱20,000, must have made at least one SSS contribution in 2025 or 2026, and must have an SSS disbursement account. They are also scheduled to receive ₱2,000 monthly from July to December.
The DSWD has repeatedly emphasized that UPLIFT is a targeted program, meaning beneficiaries are identified through government databases rather than through an open application process. Qualified recipients generally do not need to apply at a DSWD office just to be included in the program.
Why is the government releasing the cash aid?
The UPLIFT expansion was announced as part of the government’s response to the economic pressures associated with the energy emergency and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which contributed to concerns over fuel and commodity prices.
The government said the program is intended to help vulnerable households maintain their ability to meet daily needs while preventing poor and near-poor families from slipping further into poverty.
The DSWD has also clarified that the assistance received by qualified SSS members is funded by the national government through the DSWD budget, rather than being deducted from their SSS contributions.
The aid comes as hunger remains a major concern
The latest UPLIFT figures come amid continuing concerns about household food security.
A second-quarter Social Weather Stations survey conducted from June 20 to 29, 2026, found that 20.3% of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once during the previous three months. The figure was down from 23.2% in March. Moderate hunger fell to 15.8%, while severe hunger stood at 4.5%.
The results show that while hunger indicators improved slightly, about one in five Filipino families still reported experiencing involuntary hunger, underscoring the economic pressures facing households.
Regional implementation is also continuing. In the Negros Island Region, for example, more than 141,000 Group 2 beneficiaries received ₱2,000 each during the initial July 20-August 21 payout period, with the DSWD-NIR preparing for another 67,000 beneficiaries in the succeeding rollout.
What beneficiaries should know
For Group 2 recipients, the DSWD initially used manual, onsite distribution for the July payout. Beginning in August, the agency shifted toward digital payouts to make succeeding monthly assistance more convenient. Beneficiaries were advised to prepare their account details and use the eGov PH system where applicable.
The DSWD continues to coordinate with local government units and other partner agencies to validate beneficiaries and facilitate the distribution of assistance.
With the number of recipients now exceeding 5.57 million households, the government is moving closer to its broader 7.5-million-household target.
But the rollout is not yet finished.
Millions of households remain in the program’s target population, leaving the next phase of payouts under close watch as the DSWD continues its nationwide distribution through December 2026.
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