BACOLOD City — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will release fuel subsidy assistance to 610 tricycle drivers in Bacolod City today, April 30, marking the final payout for beneficiaries previously tagged as “left-out” or with unclaimed subsidies.
The distribution will take place at Ayala Malls Capital Central, where qualified drivers are scheduled to receive their cash aid under the government’s fuel subsidy program.
According to Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga, head of the City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), beneficiaries have been notified through text messages and phone calls to ensure proper coordination and an orderly release of assistance.
This batch represents the last group of tricycle drivers who appealed or completed requirements after missing earlier payouts, as well as those who failed to claim their assistance during the scheduled distributions on April 8 to 10 and April 24 to 25.
The 610 beneficiaries form part of the 9,617 qualified recipients under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), a program aimed at cushioning the impact of rising fuel prices on vulnerable sectors, particularly public utility drivers.
The payout is part of a broader government effort to mitigate the effects of soaring fuel costs, which have been exacerbated by ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya earlier submitted a verified list of 10,551 drivers to the DSWD for inclusion in the national fuel subsidy program.
The list covers a broad segment of Bacolod’s transport sector, including Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) and Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers, delivery drivers, and modernized PUJ operators and drivers validated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) – Negros Island Region.
The mayor emphasized that the submission includes even those who had previously raised concerns through protests, provided they passed validation.
Gasataya also appealed to the DSWD to extend assistance to traditional and modernized PUV drivers who currently lack active franchises from the LTFRB.
By recommending their inclusion under the AICS program, the mayor sought to ensure that these vulnerable workers are not excluded from government support.
This administrative adjustment allows undocumented yet heavily affected drivers to be accommodated and included in the relief pipeline.
“It depends on the DSWD how many beneficiaries will be covered. They will release the assistance to the public transport sector this time,” the mayor said./PN
