DSWD Grants Cash Assistance to Middle Class in the Philippines

Photo courtesy of Philstar

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines is expanding its cash relief efforts to aid those impacted by the ongoing oil crisis. While public utility drivers are prioritized, the program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), extends to the middle class and minimum wage earners. This emergency measure aims to alleviate the financial burden arising from the conflict in the Middle East.

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The cash relief effort, as detailed by DSWD Undersecretary Adonis Sulit in a Senate committee hearing, is designed as a social protection intervention. Under this initiative, households may receive an additional P6,000, while individuals can receive P1,500. This move follows the proposal by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to broaden assistance beyond vehicle operators to other economically vulnerable groups.

Additionally, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is broadening its TUPAD Tuloy Pasada program. This includes support not only for jeepney drivers but also for paddlers, motorized banca operators, and tricycle drivers. DOLE is reallocating P1.2 billion from its Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program to assist these groups amid ongoing financial hardships caused by the energy crisis.

Farmers and fisherfolk are also experiencing relief through deferred loan repayments, addressing the strain from rising fuel costs on agricultural operations. However, the impact of the crisis is significantly felt by rank-and-file teachers, with many earning below the family living wage and relying heavily on loans for survival, exacerbating their financial instability, as highlighted by Ruby Bernardo of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers.

Looking ahead, governmental agencies are expected to continue evolving their support mechanisms in response to the crisis's economic toll. Continued monitoring and adaptation of relief strategies will be crucial to addressing the needs of the diverse sectors affected.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Philstar · 17 Apr 2026