Iloilo: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has commenced the distribution of the second tranche of cash assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to 62,612 beneficiaries throughout the region.

According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD-6 Regional Director Joselito Estember made the announcement during the 'Handog ng Pangulo' program at the Iloilo provincial capitol. On Monday, an initial batch of 1,574 beneficiaries in Iloilo received their PHP2,000 cash grant for August, while distributions continued in other areas of the region on Tuesday.

The beneficiaries belong to UPLIFT Group 2, which consists of poor and near-poor households identified through the Philippine Statistics Authority's community-based monitoring system. DSWD-6 Information Officer Therese Fely Legaste stated that the agency aims to complete this second-tranche payout by next week and prepare for the third tranche.

Currently, payouts are conducted manually, as many beneficiaries have yet to register online. Legaste advised beneficiaries to await announcements from their local government units regarding payout schedules. During the first tranche, DSWD-6 distributed PHP125.2 million to beneficiaries in Western Visayas.

Legaste urged beneficiaries to utilize the assistance for their basic needs and encouraged them to secure a disbursement account for future payouts. UPLIFT is a government program initiated under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide additional support to poor, near-poor, and low-income households amid the energy emergency. Beneficiaries receive PHP2,000 monthly through December to help mitigate the impact of the energy crisis and maintain household purchasing power.