President Marcos has led the first wave of distribution of cash relief assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers affected by the sudden increase of oil prices.

In leading the cash payout distribution on Tuesday, March 17 in Sta. Mesa, Manila, Marcos stressed the need to provide cash assistance to affected sectors, such as the PUV drivers, to cushion impacts to oil prices amid the tensions in the Middle East.

"This is just the beginning of the distribution. This is something that we have to do because of the sudden increase in oil prices," Marcos said.

"We will start, we will do 30,000 of the tricycle drivers. Susunod ang jeepney driver and then yung TNVS ang susunod after that (The jeepney drivers and transport network vehicle service will come next)," Marcos added.

He further said that distribution of cash aid to jeepney drivers will start this week or early next week.

The P5,000-fuel assistance distribution to public transport drivers will cover ride-hailing motorcycles and cars, taxis, jeepneys and buses.

The President assured the public that the government will ensure that Filipinos continue to earn a living amid the oil price shocks.

"Andito tayo, the government, andito ang gobyerno, nandito ang pamahalaan. At talagang binabantayan natin kung ano mga bagong pangyayari, kung ano ang darating para naman matiyak na patuloy na makakapaghanap buhay ang ating mga kababayan at patuloy na makapasok sa trabaho ang ating mga komyuter (We are here, the government is here, the administration is here. We are closely monitoring the new developments and what may happen next to ensure that our fellow citizens can continue to earn a living and that our commuters can continue going to work)," Marcos said.

"At patuloy lang at hindi naman masyado maging problema itong nangyari nga sa yung gera sa Middle East. At asahan po ninyo na kami po ay nakabantay at nakakaalalay sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan (We also hope that what has happened, the war in the Middle East, will not become too much of a problem. You can expect that we are watching closely and providing support to all our fellow citizens)," he added.

According to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the program aims to help 396,352 public transport drivers in Metro Manila.

The program will go nationwide by April once the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have finalized the list of beneficiaries.

Recto also said that the government will launch a Libreng Sakay Program so that commuters, especially students and workers, can save money amidst the rise in the prices of basic goods.

"We are doing an inventory of what we can deploy, and who can participate," Recto said.

"There will be various modalities. We can deploy government-owned vehicles, for example. Or even contract buses and designate these as fare-free rides," he said. "We can ask also LGUs who run free bus services to extend the operating hours."