MALACAÑANG said government agencies which assist sectors affected by the Middle East crisis, must now request for funding separately from the Department of the Budget and Management (DBM) rather than have a dedicated budget under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program.
‘No additional funding will be allocated for UPLIFT at this time. It will depend on the actual requirements and requests from the concerned implementing agencies,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in Filipino in a press briefing on Tuesday.
She said the request will be screened by DBM.
‘The funds that can be provided depend on the needs of the implementing agencies and will be subject to review; it must have complete documentation before any funds are released for the needs of our fellow citizens,’ Castro said.
A similar arrangement will be implemented next year since UPLIFT has no stand-alone budget in the 2027 National Expenditure Program.
The Presidential Communication Office undersecretary issued the statement as local oil firms are projected to hike pump prices this week due to the increased presence of the Iran-backed Houthis in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which are expected to further limit global petroleum product supplies.
The Department of Energy estimated a liter of diesel prices will go up on Tuesday by P4.31, gasoline by P5.68 per liter, and kerosene by P4.62.
Established through Executive Order No. 110 last March, the UPLIFT programs aims to ensure the protection of Filipinos in the Middle East, ensure sufficient supply of fuel, assist sectors in need, keep food prices affordable and ensure supply of electricity. The interventions include fuel and rice subsidy as well as cash aids.
DBM ordered government agencies in May to submit their unused budget so it can sustain the UPLIFT programs until the end of the year, which is estimated to cost the government P155 billion.
It was able to collect P22.79 billion of savings of government agencies from the reduction of Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and their savings. Of the savings, P12.37 billion were allocated for the expanded UPLIFT.
In July, President Ferdinand Marcos announced the allocation of P12.38 billion for the expanded UPLIFT, which will benefit over 37 million Filipinos.
The Asian Development Bank announced that the US$1.75-billion support facility it will extend to the Philippine government to augment its UPLIFT-related initiatives is still pending.