The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is planning to shift toward digital cash distribution through e-wallets following delays, long queues, and the death of a driver while waiting for government assistance over the weekend.
Speaking on DZRH’s “Dos Por Dos,” on Monday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the agency is looking to digitize cash aid distribution for motorcycle taxi (MC taxi), Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), service, and delivery drivers. However, he noted that tricycle and jeepney drivers may initially be excluded from the digitization due to limited access to e-wallets.
“’Yang tatlong sektor na ’yan gagawin na nating GCash. Kasi ’yung tricycle at jeep, as per checking nung araw na ’yun, marami sa kanila walang e-wallets kasi nagsu-survey na rin kami. Pero ’yung tricycle at jeep mas manageable ’yun kasi kaunti lang sila, hindi kasing rami nito,” Gatchalian said.
He added that e-wallet providers GCash and Maya have already submitted proposals for the planned rollout.
“Ready na tayo kung magkakaroon ng panibagong round, doon na natin idadaan. Confident na kami doon sa listahan,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gatchalian apologized for the inconvenience experienced by transport workers during payout operations held on Saturday across four mega sites in Metro Manila.
“Humihingi ako ng paumanhin sa ngalan ng Departamento sa nangyari nung Sabado kung na-aberya yung kanilang mga plano sana, pati na rin yung mga schedule nila. Alam ko, mga busy itong mga tao,” he said.
The DSWD chief also extended sympathy to the family of a driver who died while lining up for assistance on Sunday, saying the agency had already extended financial assistance. The cause of death has yet to be determined.
After two days of payout operations, the agency said it was able to process around 80,000 beneficiaries, lower than the initial list of 120,000 names submitted. It also noted that about 20% of listed individuals in earlier rounds did not claim assistance, a pattern previously observed in other transport aid programs.
Despite the challenges, Gatchalian reiterated his apology and commitment to improve future operations.
“It could have been better, and it should have been better. We will do better,” he said.
