BACOLOD City — As livelihoods continue to be strained by ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the Bacolod City government is urging national agencies to adopt a more inclusive approach to fuel subsidies, ensuring that marginalized transport workers and farmers are not left behind.
Mayor Greg Gasataya has submitted a verified list of 10,551 drivers to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fast-track the distribution of fuel subsidies.
The move aims to provide immediate relief to the city’s transport sector, which has been grappling with rising operating costs.
The consolidated registry covers a wide cross-section of Bacolod’s transport workforce, including public utility jeepney (PUJ) and public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers with active franchises, as well as transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers affiliated with platforms such as Grab, Maxim, inDrive, and Joyride.
Drivers from delivery and logistics companies, including J&T Express, and those operating modernized jeepneys are also included, with validation carried out in coordination with their associations and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board–Negros Island Region (LTFRB-NIR).
Notably, the mayor emphasized that the list also includes drivers who previously staged protests, underscoring the city’s effort to recognize all affected sectors.
“The most important thing for us is that they are validated, meaning they are qualified,” Gasataya said, adding that the city is awaiting final guidelines from the DSWD on the release of assistance.
Beyond the initial submission, Gasataya has appealed to the DSWD to extend aid to traditional and modernized jeepney drivers who currently lack active franchises—one of the most vulnerable yet often excluded groups in government assistance programs.
He recommended that these drivers be considered under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to ensure they receive support despite documentation gaps.
This push reflects a broader effort by the city government to close gaps in subsidy distribution and prevent economically at-risk workers from being sidelined during the crisis.
“It will depend on the DSWD how many beneficiaries will be accommodated, but the goal is to ensure the public transport sector receives timely assistance,” the mayor said.
Parallel to its appeal for transport workers, the city government is also advocating for the inclusion of 410 Bacolod-based farmers in the national fuel subsidy program.
These farmers are already registered under the Department of Agriculture’s Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).
Mayor Gasataya said the request seeks to provide farmers with much-needed financial assistance to offset rising fuel and production costs, helping sustain food production and rural livelihoods during the ongoing energy crisis.
By pushing for the inclusion of both transport workers and farmers—especially those on the margins of formal systems—Bacolod City is positioning its response not only as immediate relief, but also as a call for equitable access to government support in times of crisis./PN
