DUMAGUETE CITY, July 20 -- Thousands of vulnerable households in Negros Oriental began receiving the first tranche of government cash assistance on Monday under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (UPLIFT) program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) simultaneously launched the program in two pilot local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental and three in Negros Occidental.

John Michael Rollorata, Social Welfare and Development team leader for Negros Oriental, said the province's pilot areas are Dumaguete City and the municipality of Vallehermoso.

UPLIFT is a government initiative established by Executive Order No. 110 in March, which declared an energy emerg...