DSWD Reminds UPLIFT Beneficiaries: Use Your Cash Aid for Basic Needs, Not Gadgets
UPLIFT CASH AID – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has appealed to beneficiaries of the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program to spend the cash assistance on their basic needs, after social media posts showed some recipients using the money to buy gadgets.
The agency issued the reminder on Tuesday, November 10, after the viral posts drew criticism from netizens who said some beneficiaries were spending the aid on nonessential and fancy items, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. Manila Standard also carried the DSWD statement.
What DSWD Said About the Viral Posts
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency is aware that some of the posts may have been made only for social media content, showing beneficiaries heading to malls or gadget stores right after getting their aid. Still, she asked recipients to respect the program and what it stands for.
“If it will cause misunderstanding, let’s be responsible not to turn the program into content,” Dumlao said, as quoted by the Inquirer.
She stressed that the UPLIFT assistance is only meant to help families with their daily expenses and is not enough to pay for luxury items. According to Dumlao, misleading posts can affect how the public sees the program, and making fun of it is unfair to vulnerable Filipinos who rely on government aid as their last source of help.
How Much UPLIFT Beneficiaries Receive
UPLIFT was created through Executive Order No. 110, which President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed on March 24, 2026 in response to the economic disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. Based on the Inquirer report, here is how the aid is given:
- 4Ps and Walang Gutom Program households – one-time cash aid of ₱2,000
- Poor and near-poor households identified through the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) – ₱2,000 a month for six months
- Low-income SSS members – ₱2,000 a month for six months
Earlier this month, the DSWD said Group 2 beneficiaries, or the CBMS-identified households, who chose GCash would receive their third and fourth tranches worth ₱4,000 starting November 6 through their registered e-wallets or bank accounts. Those without a registered digital account will get their aid through manual payouts from November 2 to 30, with schedules and venues to be announced on the DSWD Facebook page. As of November 4, more than 1.7 million Group 2 households had already received their first tranche, Manila Standard reported.
DSWD Warns Against Ayuda Scams
Aside from the reminder, Dumlao also warned the public against scams using the cash aid program. Beneficiaries should watch out for:
- Suspicious online links
- Messages from unregistered mobile numbers
- Unverified digital receipts
- Anyone asking for a processing fee or a One-Time Password (OTP) in exchange for cash assistance
The DSWD also noted that people in crisis may seek help through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, which is given through a guarantee letter or cash. For official announcements, beneficiaries are advised to check only the verified pages and website of the DSWD.
Are you an UPLIFT beneficiary? You may also check the UPLIFT cash aid November 2026 payout schedule.
