NEWS AND UPDATES

As President Marcos commenced his speech, he elaborated on the actions taken to support Filipinos amid the challenges brought by the war. With rising fuel prices, and increasing living costs, the government continues to take action to uplift and support our fellow Filipinos.

Through UPLIFT, it helped returning Filipinos get back on their feet and start anew by providing livelihood opportunities through the AKSYON Fund and the OWWA Kabuhayan Program. Others were connected to PESO or included in the Bayanihan para sa Balikbayang Manggagawa Job Fairs to help them find employment.

On May 1, job fairs were conducted, making job opportunities available to the public. During one of these job fairs, more than 6,000 Filipinos were hired on the spot. Salaries were also distributed to more than beneficiaries and workers under the DOLE DILEEP and TUPAD programs.

To help ease the financial burden on families, banks provided up to six months of payment grace periods for loans, and up to one year for loans used for agricultural purposes. Similar assistance was extended by the GSIS and SSS for their members' loans, the NHMFC for borrowers of affordable housing, and the Pag-IBIG Fund for affected OFWs.

The Benteng Bigas Meron Na program continues to provide relief to more than 12 million Filipinos nationwide. At the same time, more than 800 KADIWA outlets across the country continue to help consumers access affordable goods while providing farmers and fisherfolk with opportunities to directly sell their products.

Assistance was also provided to nearly 2 million farmers and fisherfolk during the period of high fuel prices through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Families (PAFFF).

Drivers were supported through cash relief under the AICS program, while a ₱10-per-liter diesel subsidy was provided to public utility jeepneys and UV Express vehicles to help ease their fuel expenses. To further support both drivers and commuters, the Service Contracting Program for public buses and jeepneys was revived. Through TUPAD Tuloy-Pasada, public utility drivers were also given additional income opportunities.

All these efforts reflect a commitment to the work that must continue—not only to respond to the challenges Filipinos face today, but also to build a better country for the generations that will come after us. The goal remains clear: to create a Philippines where every Filipino has the opportunity to live with dignity, find meaningful work, provide for their families, and look forward to a better future.