The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released P1.3 billion in cash relief assistance to a total of 259, 979 tricycle drivers outside Metro Manila.
Each beneficiary received P5,000 during simultaneous regional payouts conducted from April 8 to 10, based on field reports from the agency’s Crisis Intervention Program under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the distribution is ongoing and the agency is working to complete payouts for all targeted beneficiaries nationwide.
“The DSWD remains committed to delivering this much-needed assistance until all targeted drivers across the country receive their cash grants; we understand what the drivers are experiencing,” Dumlao said on Monday, April 13.
The rollout started with tricycle drivers in Metro Manila last month, and moved to the provinces on April 8.
Jeepney drivers, transport network vehicle service (TNVS) operators, motorcycle taxi drivers, and delivery service riders will follow in the next batches.
“Hearing the positive feedback and seeing the happiness of our drivers motivates the Department to work even faster; hindi po tayo titigil (we are not going to stop)—every single peso we distribute is aimed at easing the daily burden of our hardworking citizens,” Dumlao said.
“We recognize the daily struggles of our public transport sector which is why we are pulling all the stops to ensure no one is left behind; the national government is fully mobilized to reach every single beneficiary on our list,” she added.
Cash aid distribution will continue in the coming weeks, with completion targeted by April 30.
The assistance is meant to help drivers cope with higher fuel costs that have pushed up operating expenses and reduced their daily earnings.
It is funded through the P30-billion allocation for cash relief assistance under the AICS program.