By Brian Campued
“People need to see that help is real, that it is ongoing, and that it is reaching them—because even the most extensive government action means little if people cannot understand or access it.”
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday underscored the Marcos administration’s commitment to transparency as it launched the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) microsite, serving as a “single source of truth” amid the proliferation of fake news regarding government interventions on the Middle East crisis.
During a press briefing in Malacañang, DBM Usec. Goddes Hope Libiran presented to the media the features of the microsite, which highlights the government’s numerous efforts to cushion Filipinos from the impacts of global oil shocks.
“This microsite shows that this whole-of-government response starts at the top and that our President (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) is actively engaged, publicly accountable, and squarely focused on the Filipino people,” Libiran said.
She stressed the importance of putting up the microsite as part of the government’s efforts to combat the spread of false information online, which accuses the administration of not doing anything to address the energy situation in the country.
“Gusto naming makita nila, under po the directive of our President, makita nila kung ano ba talaga iyong ginagawa ng gobyerno para sa kanila, dahil po lahat naman noong mga programa, proyekto, iyong mga ayuda, mga tulong lahat naman po iyan sila ang true beneficiary,” she said.
Designed as a user-friendly dashboard, the microsite features government initiatives anchored on UPLIFT’s five core pillars: Saving lives; Ensuring a sufficient supply of fuel; Assisting sectors in need; Keeping food prices within reach; and Ensuring supply of electricity.
Upon accessing the website dashboard (https://uplift.gov.ph/), users can already be informed about the latest figures on the repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers, fuel supply levels, assistance provided to key sectors, prices of food, and power supply status.
The landing page also provides a section where the public can read press releases or watch the President’s speeches and on-ground engagements; energy conservation tips from the Department of Energy; and stories produced by the UPLIFT communications and command center, translating government action into content people can understand, relate to, and trust.
Users can also choose whether to navigate the microsite in English or in Filipino, with further plans to expand to regional languages like Bisaya and Ilokano to improve its relatability.
The microsite also features beneficiary testimonials, updates and briefings, transparent budget utilization, and a feedback tab where the public can submit comments and inquiries regarding the government’s response.
“This is not merely a report, this is a public-facing clarity tool… Public transparency tool siya, mababantayan ng tao iyong galaw ng pera at makikita rin natin kung papaano ang nagiging performances ng mga implementing agencies as to how they spent iyong kanilang mga allocated budget,” Libiran explained.
“So, kapag may mga question sila about budget, sasagutin po iyan ng appropriate agency, so talagang ito po ay transparency at its finest,” she added.
Libiran clarified that the microsite comes with no additional cost to the public as it was developed internally by personnel of the Department of Budget and Management in coordination with the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, Office of the Executive Secretary, and the Presidential Communications Office.
She added that the microsite will remain operational as long as the Middle East crisis persists, reflecting updated data and information on the government’s actions to uplift the lives of Filipinos during the energy emergency.
“So, to sum it up, the UPLIFT microsite takes everything this administration is doing to shield Filipinos from the effects of the Middle East crisis. It shows that we are present, we are mobilizing, we are here, united and under the leadership of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are moving forward together with every Filipino citizen in mind,” she said.
The UPLIFT was adopted as the government’s coordinated, whole-of-government response framework through Executive Order 110 issued by the President on March 24.
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