The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  warned transport network companies (TNCs) against setting up recruitment booths and failing to properly coordinate during the upcoming cash aid payout for transport workers.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian issued the warning ahead of the rollout of the Cash Relief Assistance (CRA), adding that violations and poor coordination will not be tolerated.

“I’m telling you, I’m really going to make this such a big issue. Send people (to the Help Desks) who are knowledgeable,” Gatchalian said, as he ordered TNCs to deploy trained personnel to assist beneficiaries.

He reiterated that payout sites should not be used for recruitment activities and called out some firms for previous lapses, including delayed submission of driver lists and late deployment of staff.

“For Grab and MoveIt, stop your practice of turning the payout into recruitment sessions. Ang Lalamove, literally late nagpadala [ng list] kaya halos walang nabayaran. Sa Help Desk, pupunta 11 nang tanghali (Lalamove literally submitted its list late, so almost no one was paid. At the Help Desk, they only arrive at 11 a.m.),” he said.

Gatchalian also warned TNCs against posting altered or inconsistent payout schedules and master lists, directing them to share only official materials from government agencies.

“Kung anong pinost namin, i-repost na lang ninyo, wag niyo na i-layout. This time, we have to speak as one policing unit (Whatever we posted, just repost it, don’t redesign it. This time, we have to speak as one policing unit),” he said.

Beneficiaries were also urged to follow schedules strictly and verify their names in the official master list before going to payout sites to avoid overcrowding.

“Basta simple lang, pag nandoon ang pangalan mo, pumunta ka. Pag wala yung pangalan mo, wag ka muna pumunta (It’s simple: if your name is there, go. If your name is not there, don’t go yet),” he said.

The warning comes as the DSWD prepares to distribute P5,000 cash aid to more than 160,000 motorcycle taxi and delivery riders and over 48,000 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

Payouts for motorcycle taxi and Private Express and Messengerial Delivery Service riders are scheduled from April 17 to 19 at designated venues, including Caloocan Coliseum, TNC Park Concert Grounds in Taguig, Makati Coliseum, and Quezon Memorial Circle, with operations starting at 7 a.m.

A separate one-day payout for TNVS drivers will be announced once finalized.

DSWD officials also flagged recurring coordination issues on the ground, particularly incomplete beneficiary data and the absence of TNC representatives during payouts.

Crisis Intervention Program Director Edwin Morata said the agency can no longer accommodate on-the-spot corrections, warning that confusion often leads to tension at distribution sites.

“Sana po as early as 7 am, nandoon na po tayo. Mahirap pong nagtuturuan kasi doon po nagkakaroon ng agitation sa mga kliyente. More or less, kami po ang naaaway (We hope you can be there as early as 7 a.m. It’s difficult when there’s finger-pointing because that’s when clients become agitated. More or less, we end up being the ones confronted),” he said.

Undersecretary Monina Josefina Romualdez clarified that only active, inactive, and suspended riders are eligible for the CRA, while deactivated drivers may seek other assistance from the DSWD.

“For those cases po, huwag na po sila mag-claim ng CRA. Tutulungan po natin sila sa ibang assistance (For those cases, they should no longer claim the CRA. We will assist them through other forms of aid),” she said.

The payout will cover beneficiaries in Metro Manila as well as nearby provinces, including Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, and Bulacan.