Gov’t earmarks P22.79-B savings for Middle East crisis assistance

USEC. CLAIRE CASTRO / JUNE 30, 2026 Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro provides an official update regarding the administration’s response during the demonstration organized by Iglesia ni Cristo members at the EDSA White Plains, Quezon City and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on June 30, 2026, to show solidarity with Senator Rodante Marcoleta, following the Ombudsman’s decision to file plunder charges against him in the Sandiganbayan. The Palace continues to closely monitor traffic flow, peace and order, and public safety interventions as law enforcement manages the heavy gridlock caused by the demonstration. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has identified P22.79 billion in government savings that will be used to finance assistance programs for vulnerable sectors affected by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, according to Malacañang. Palace press officer Claire Castro on Thursday said the savings were identified following the issuance of DBM National Budget Circulars Nos. 602 and 603, which require government agencies to pool surplus and unused funds. The circulars were issued in April and May directing national government agencies to consolidate surplus and unused appropriations to help finance economic and energy relief measures. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Another ‘ayuda’: P12,000 each for 7.5M families, says Marcos According to Castro, government will prioritize the use of the pooled savings to fund the expanded Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (Uplift) Assistance program, which provides assistance to farmers, workers, commuters, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and Filipino families affected by the Middle East conflict. She said the funding for the expanded P12.375-billion Uplift package for 7.5 million poor and near-poor Filipinos families recently announced by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was financed through the identified savings. According to Marcos, 1.5 million low-income workers and their families whose records have been verified by the Social Security System (SSS) will receive P2,000 per month from July through December — or P12,000 for the entire six months. The same amount of assistance will also be received by the 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the 2024 Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS). Article continues after this advertisement Meanwhile, a one-time additional cash assistance of up to P2,000 will be granted to 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program. According to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, first payout will be done manually, which shall be done in coordination with the local government units (LGUs) for the schedule and venue. Article continues after this advertisement During the manual payout, beneficiaries will be asked about their preferred digital payment mode for the next five months. /mr Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.