ILOILO — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has accelerated the distribution of emergency cash aid to transport workers, with an additional 9,759 tricycle drivers receiving P5,000 each as payout operations resumed, pushing the program to over 93 percent completion as of April 16.
The latest disbursement underscores the government’s intensified response to the ongoing fuel crisis, with authorities racing to complete payouts across the region while ensuring unserved beneficiaries are covered in upcoming schedules.
Data from DSWD Region 6 showed that the 9,759 beneficiaries represent an overall accomplishment rate of 93.25 percent following the April 15 payout operations.
Breakdown of payout accomplishments showed high turnout in several provinces:
In Aklan
* Kalibo – 2,325 beneficiaries (97.32%)
* Lezo – 20 beneficiaries (66.67%)
* Makato – 394 beneficiaries (95.63%)
* Malinao – 8 beneficiaries (100%)
* Numancia – 379 beneficiaries (61.73%)
In Capiz
* Cuartero – 174 beneficiaries (97.21%)
* Dao – 484 beneficiaries (96.41%)
* Dumalag – 173 beneficiaries (96.65%)
* Dumarao – 194 beneficiaries (96.52%)
* Maayon – 414 beneficiaries (86.07%)
* Panay – 138 beneficiaries (58.97%)
In Guimaras
* Jordan – 1,274 beneficiaries (92.72%)
* Nueva Valencia – 321 beneficiaries (93.04%)
In Iloilo
* Anilao – 172 beneficiaries (95.03%)
* Banate – 182 beneficiaries (98.91%)
* Barotac Nuevo – 790 beneficiaries (99%)
* Dumangas – 845 beneficiaries (97.80%)
In Antique
* Anini-y – 230 beneficiaries (97.46%)
* Barbaza – 250 beneficiaries (97.66%)
* Bugasong – 544 beneficiaries (99.27%)
* Patnongon – 448 beneficiaries (99.56%)
DSWD-6 regional director Joselito Estember and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Katherine Joy Lamprea personally visited multiple payout sites to ensure the smooth flow of operations.
Help desks jointly manned by DSWD and local government units were also set up to immediately address concerns of driver-beneficiaries during the distribution.
Earlier, during the pilot implementation on April 8, a total of 8,021 out of 8,450 drivers received assistance amounting to P40,105,000 across Western Visayas.
As of this writing, payout operations remain ongoing in various locations across the region.
The initiative is in line with the directives of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian to ensure that assistance is provided, especially to the transportation sector affected by the oil crisis, helping them sustain their daily needs and support their livelihood.
The agency emphasized that payout activities for other Local Government Units (LGUs) are scheduled in the coming days, while those unclaimed today will be scheduled for a special payout./PN
