UPLIFT program distributes P60M worth of cash assistance in Agusan Sur
By Niña Jonalyn B. Gambe-Diamante
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program has released a total of P60 million in cash aid to qualified beneficiaries in Agusan del Sur province.
As of August 14, 30,417 out of 42,505 identified beneficiaries have already received their P2,000 cash assistance, reflecting a 71.56 percent payout rate. All 13 municipalities and one component city of Agusan del Sur have successfully conducted their respective payout activities.
Beneficiaries were determined through the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), which classified poor and near-poor households for government intervention. Each identified household will receive the subsidy monthly from July to December 2026, while Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members may avail of the assistance on a one-time basis.
Social Welfare Officer II Cristian Silverio assured the public that the payout process has been streamlined to ensure that only qualified recipients benefit from the program.
“Before they are able to claim their cash aid, part of our protocol is to validate the identity and other documentary requirements of the beneficiary in order to make sure that only those who are included in the list will be provided with the assistance allocated for them,” Silverio said.
To further ease the process, initial payouts were conducted on-site, and succeeding disbursements – up until the end of 2026 – will be through money transfer.
The latest payout schedule in the province was on August 13, when 1,181 beneficiaries from the municipality of Prosperidad were called for payout, followed by San Francisco with more than 2,500 recipients on the August 14 schedule.
Clarissa Albialde, a beneficiary of Prosperidad, expressed her gratitude for the assistance.
“I am very thankful for this assistance coming from the government, as this will help me buy my children’s school needs. With the minimal income that my husband and I receive, this money will already go a long way,” Albialde said.
The UPLIFT program in Agusan del Sur reflects the government’s continuing commitment to ease the financial burdens of Filipinos amid both local and global economic challenges. This sustained effort demonstrates the government’s resolve to deliver timely relief while promoting inclusive support for families navigating the hardships of today’s economic climate. (NJGD, PIA Caraga/Photo courtesy of the local government of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur)
