MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun distributing financial assistance through GCash under its UPLIFT Assistance Program, providing a faster and more convenient way for eligible households to receive government aid.
The digital payout initiative was launched on Friday, November 6, 2026, covering the third and fourth tranches of assistance for 210 beneficiaries from poor and near-poor households in Mandaue City.
Each beneficiary received Php 4,000 through GCash, with total assistance amounting to Php 840,000.
As part of the pilot testing, 41 of the 210 beneficiaries were invited to personally participate in the digital payout process to assess the implementation of cashless financial assistance.
The activity was spearheaded by DSWD Field Office 7 in Central Visayas, led by Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, in coordination with representatives from GCash.
The initiative aims to simplify the distribution of financial assistance by allowing beneficiaries to receive funds electronically, reducing the need for traditional cash distribution procedures.
The digital payment system is also intended to improve efficiency and accessibility in delivering government assistance to vulnerable households.
According to the DSWD, the initiative aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to modernize government services and strengthen the delivery of social protection programs.
The agency continues to explore digital solutions to make financial assistance programs more efficient, accessible and responsive to the needs of beneficiaries.
The Mandaue City rollout forms part of the DSWD’s pilot efforts to integrate digital payment platforms into its assistance distribution system.
