BACOLOD City — More than 1,700 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Bacolod City received fuel assistance on April 16, as local officials moved to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.
Deputy Speaker and Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the distribution of subsidy cards to 1,780 modernized and consolidated traditional jeepney drivers during an event held at his office.
Each beneficiary received a fuel subsidy card worth P1,000.
The assistance, sourced from the lawmaker’s personal funds, forms part of his continuing effort to provide direct support to the city’s transport sector amid ongoing fuel price increases.
“Sa panahon nga nagasaka ang presyo sang krudo, indi naton pagbayaan ang aton mga driver nga naga serbisyo adlaw-adlaw sa aton komunidad,” Benitez said, underscoring the need to sustain drivers who play a vital role in daily mobility.
The initiative benefited drivers from various transport groups across the city, many of whom continue to face reduced income and fluctuating fuel prices driven by global oil market pressures.
By distributing fuel subsidy cards instead of cash, the program ensures that the assistance is readily accessible and used specifically for fuel expenses.
The move highlights Benitez’s broader push to deliver timely and targeted aid to sectors most vulnerable to economic disruptions, particularly those dependent on daily earnings, as they await assistance from the national government.
Meanwhile, concerns over gaps in government fuel subsidy programs have also surfaced.
Senator Francis Escudero called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to expedite the review of appeals filed by around 500 tricycle drivers in Bacolod who were not included in the initial list of beneficiaries.
The appeals followed the DSWD’s distribution of fuel aid and cash assistance to 9,617 tricycle drivers from April 8 to 10.
Local officials said the names of excluded drivers are currently being consolidated for submission to the national government for reconsideration, with documentation coursed through the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) to streamline validation.
Escudero stressed that delays in assistance could further burden low-income transport workers who rely on daily trips to support their families.
The developments underscore both local and national efforts to cushion transport workers from the continuing impact of high fuel costs, while also exposing gaps that authorities are being urged to address promptly.
