The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Saturday said it will conduct a special payout for tricycle drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) who were not able to receive the P5,000 cash assistance earlier.
In an interview on DZRH's RH Balita, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to accommodate drivers whose names were submitted late for the government’s financial relief program.
“Magkakaroon tayo ng special payout date para doon sa mga local government unit na mayroon pong mga lista na nahuli na naisumite kasi mayroon nga po nagsabi na mga tricycle drivers na dapat sila ay mapabilang din. So, nag-encode sa system ‘yung mga local government units and then again sumailalim 'yan sa deduplication process,” Dumlao said in an interview.
“We will arrange now with the local government units kung kailan po natin i-se-serve o magsasagawa ng payout activity para don sa mga nahuli po na submission sa mga local government,” she added.
Dumlao assured affected drivers not to worry, emphasizing that the directive of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. is to ensure all eligible public transport drivers receive assistance amid rising fuel costs.
“Hindi po nila kinakailangan mag-aalala kasi alam niyo po na ang utos ng Pangulong Marcos Jr., dapat tiyakin natin ang lahat ng mga tricycle drivers at iba pang mga drivers nga po natin ay mabahagi na ng tulong ng atin pong pamahalaan para maibsan o mabigyang lunas ‘yon pong mga suliranin na kinakaharap nila bunsod ng pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo,” she noted.
The DSWD also confirmed that distribution of cash assistance to other public transport drivers in NCR will continue next week. Beneficiaries include transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers, jeepney drivers, taxi drivers, and delivery riders.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will notify beneficiaries of their designated payout sites. Dumlao said announcements will be posted by Monday, with distribution expected to begin Tuesday, March 24.
“Starting Tuesday next week bibigyan naman po natin ng tulong pinansyal ‘yung ibang mga driver sa NCR. Ang LTFRB po mag-aabiso sa mga TNVS driver, gayundin po sa jeepney drivers, sa MC taxi drivers pati yung delivery service riders. Kung saan po ‘yong mga designated payout site next week. Sila po kasi yung may talaan, may contact information on those drivers antabayanan po natin because definitely by Monday we will also the publishing and posting notices para po sa mga payout sites natin,” she said.
Drivers need to personally claim the assistance and present a valid driver’s license along with a photocopy.
The agency is targeting around 34,000 TNVS drivers, over 20,000 jeepney drivers, more than 60,000 delivery riders, and over 34,000 motorcycle taxi riders in NCR. However, Dumlao noted that these figures may still change after validation and removal of duplicate entries.
She furher said: “For TNVS nasa mahigit 34,000 po ‘yan, ‘yun naman mga jeepney divers nasa mahigit 20,000 po ‘yan na mga tsuper and then for delivery drivers nasa 60,000 na mga drivers ‘yan. And then for MC taxi nasa mahigit 34,000 ‘yung target natin."
Each qualified driver will receive P5,000 under the government’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
Dumlao said the assistance is part of ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices, partly driven by tensions in the Middle East. She added that additional aid may be considered depending on the situation, subject to consultations with economic managers and other government agencies.
Meanwhile, Malacañang earlier announced that distribution of financial assistance to PUV drivers in the provinces will begin after Holy Week.
