ILOILO City — The national government has already released ₱5,000 cash relief assistance to more than 56,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Western Visayas amid the continued spike in fuel prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East, with thousands of jeepney and tricycle drivers now benefiting from the emergency subsidy program.
Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 showed that 5,369 out of 5,942 jeepney drivers included in the agency’s validated “clean list” had already received their assistance during the May 11 to 16 payout schedule.
At the same time, 51,434 out of 53,865 tricycle drivers across the region have also claimed the ₱5,000 aid.
DSWD said special payouts are now ongoing for drivers who failed to claim the assistance during the original distribution schedule.
“From May 11 to 16 payouts, a total of 5,369 ka mga jeepney drivers nga aton na-release-san from the clean list nga 5,942. Actually we done with our payout and special payout na lang ini sia sa mga unclaimed naton, which puede gid nila makadtoan sa mga SWAD offices sa provinces,” said DSWD-6 public information officer Therese Legaste.
According to DSWD Region 6, validation with local government units showed that some drivers who failed to claim the subsidy had already transferred residence outside Western Visayas, while others were reportedly working abroad.
Legaste also clarified that jeepney drivers whose names are not included in the “clean list” may coordinate with their transport cooperatives, since the list submitted by cooperatives to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) served as the basis for the DSWD validation process.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB has submitted an additional list of around 800 jeepney drivers for possible inclusion in the subsidy program. The DSWD is currently conducting a de-duplication process to determine the eligibility of the beneficiaries before another payout schedule is finalized.
“May gin-submit si LTFRB nga additional list, around 800 ka bilog and on going ang de-duplication sina and schedule sang payout tinguhaan within this week,” Legaste added.
The DSWD further clarified that drivers who operate both tricycles and jeepneys are entitled to receive only one subsidy, either under the tricycle driver category or the jeepney driver category.
The cash relief program was launched by the national government to help public transport drivers cope with rising fuel costs brought about by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East./PN
