Manila, Philippines — The Executive Branch of the UPLIFT Committee is set to submit recommendations to Congress to fully enact the United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Bill into law.
During the committee’s fifth meeting, which was led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., several measures were agreed upon that will be included in the proposed bill.
Among these is allowing the government to use funds from unreleased appropriations and unobligated allotments from the Fiscal Year 2025 and 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
Castro also added that the UPLIFT Bill is being planned to be declared an urgent or priority bill so it can immediately respond to the country’s current crisis.
This is in line with the Executive Order issued by the government in March declaring a state of national energy emergency.
It can be recalled that the government activated the UPLIFT initiative alongside the declared energy emergency to ensure that various government agencies focus on strengthening the country’s food supply stability, providing continuous assistance and services to Filipinos, and protecting their livelihoods amid the ongoing crisis, which is still affected by tensions in the Middle East.
The committee members include the Department of Energy (DOE), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev), and Department of Budget and Management (DBM), which oversee the implementation of programs for affected sectors.
During the UPLIFT Committee meeting, the DOE also reported that the country’s oil buffer stock has increased by two days from 52 days to 54 days.
Meanwhile, the DA also informed the President that there is a sufficient supply of rice, pork, and chicken guaranteed until the end of 2026.