In light of the fuel price hike caused by the conflict in the Middle East, the distribution of cash relief assistance, or fuel subsidy, from the national government has started in the cities of San Juan, Marikina, Pasig, and Makati, with tricycle drivers as the first beneficiaries on Tuesday, March 17.

In San Juan City, a total of 621 Tricycle Drivers and Operators Association (TODA) members received the P5,000 fuel subsidy distributed at the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center on Tuesday, March 17.

The payout was led by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Rex Gatchalian, and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez.

"The cash assistance is intended to provide immediate help to TODA drivers who have been directly affected by the increase in fuel prices brought about by the conflict in the Middle East. Through the close coordination of the national government and the city government of San Juan, the activity aims to ensure the orderly and efficient distribution of assistance to qualified beneficiaries while affirming San Juan’s role as the first city in the Philippines to release the cash aid under the program," Zamora said.

The mayor, who is also the president of the Metro Manila Council (MMC), noted that qualified middle-class families in Metro Manila will also receive rice subsidies as additional aid to help bear the brunt of the possible surge in prices of goods and other commodities, which could be a possible domino-effect scenario caused by the hike in fuel prices.

In Pasig City, beneficiaries from Barangays Pineda and Pinagbuhatan were the first to receive the cash assistance worth P5,000. Each day, there are two payout venues: one in District 1 and one in District 2, except on Friday.

The local government said the distribution for tricycle drivers will continue until Friday, March 20, with schedules divided into two time slots: 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

It also stated that only those listed as beneficiaries should go to the venue according to their assigned schedule. The list of beneficiaries and their respective schedules (date and time) can be obtained from their Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) presidents.

Beneficiaries must bring the following during the distribution:

•A photocopy of a valid driver's license with three specimen signatures

•The original driver’s license, which must be presented on the day of the payout

•A valid government-issued ID (other than the driver's license) for additional verification, if needed

•If possible, the additional ID should include the birthdate

The city government added that receiving the fuel subsidy through an authorized representative is not allowed.

Beneficiaries are advised to claim their fuel subsidy on the scheduled dates. While there may be a schedule for unclaimed subsidies, no specific details have been announced yet.

The distribution is being managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as part of its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. In the city, the DSWD is working in coordination with the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the Tricycle Operation and Regulatory Office (TORO) to facilitate the manual payout.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said that drivers of jeepneys, other public utility vehicles, and Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) are also included in the program. Further announcements regarding the payout for other driver sectors will be made.

He assured that the local government had already coordinated with its Tricycle Operation and Regulatory Office and the 90 Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Associations (TODAs) in the city.

The mayor added that following this, they will coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Traffic and Parking Management Office, other local and national government agencies, the Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations, and other driver and operator associations.

Sotto clarified that only one financial assistance per unit/driver residing in the city will be granted. He added that this is to ensure there are no overlaps with other LGUs and that the DSWD is also deduplicating its data.

He advised drivers not to attempt to apply in two LGUs, as this will only make the process longer, adding that the DSWD will eventually identify and rectify duplications through their masterlist database.

In Marikina City, around 5,000 tricycle drivers from Districts 1 and 2 are expected to receive the fuel subsidy first, with some of them already lined up and receiving the assistance on Tuesday.

Marikina Mayor Maan Teodoro said that further announcements regarding the distribution for all vehicles, including tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, UV Express drivers, TNVS, and taxi drivers registered in the city, will be made.

“Gusto ko rin malinaw ito, walang palakasan dito. Hindi ito para sa kakilala lang, hindi ito para sa malapit lang. Lahat ng rehistradong public utility drivers dito sa Marikina ay kasama (We want to make this clear: there is no favoritism. This is not only for friends or close acquaintances. All registered public utility drivers in Marikina are included),” she said.

On Monday, March 16, she announced the launch of the "Padyak Papasok: Bike to Work Marikina” initiative to promote active mobility and energy conservation, particularly fuel, as the country continues to grapple with the significant hike in fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict.

“Pero habang tinutulungan natin ang ating mga kababayan na apektado ng fuel crisis, kailangan din natin mag-isip ng solusyon na mas pangmatagalan. Dito papasok ang isang bagay na matagal na nating ipinagmamalaki rito sa Marikina, ang kultura ng pagbibisikleta (While we are helping our fellow citizens affected by the fuel crisis, we also need to think of long-term solutions. This is where something we have long been proud of in Marikina comes in: the culture of cycling),” she said.

Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/16/bike-to-work-challenge-launched-in-marikina-to-combat-fuel-hikes

Makati City had also started the distribution of the fuel subsidy for 3,000 tricycle drivers at the Makati City Hall Quadrangle on Tuesday.

Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay assured Makati tricycle drivers that the city government will work closely with national agencies to expedite the distribution of the subsidy to eligible beneficiaries.

Recently, the Makati City government conducted barangay-based registration and renewal of tricycle franchises to make the process faster and more convenient for drivers.

The initiative forms part of the city’s continuing efforts to bring government services closer to the people and support the livelihood of the transport sector.