Around 4,625 low-income Sagaynons will receive P2,000 monthly for six months under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (Uplift) program, the city said July 28.
The assistance targets households living below the poverty line, who are not yet enrolled in any existing government assistance program, and identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS).
The assistance aims to provide temporary financial support while helping families cope with economic challenges, the city said.
The program was launched in Sagay City in the presence of DSWD assistant secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar, DSWD-Negros Island Region director Arwin Razo, Mayor Leo Rafael Cueva, and other local officials.
The first payout was conducted manually July 21 at the Sagay City Gymnasium, while succeeding releases are expected to transition to digital platforms.
Beneficiaries in areas with stable internet connectivity may receive their assistance through digital wallets, mobile banking, and other authorized payment channels.
The Uplift program is part of the national government’s whole-of-government response to cushion Filipino families from the economic effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and other external pressures affecting livelihoods and the cost of living.
Cueva thanked the DSWD for bringing the program to Sagay, and emphasized the importance of ensuring that government assistance reaches families who need it most.
“Programs like Uplift allow us to respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable families. Every peso of assistance can help put food on the table, keep children in school, and provide hope while families work toward becoming more self-sufficient,” the mayor stressed. ||
