Riders in Quezon City, Makati receive ₱5,000 cash aid from DSWD
By Trixee Rosel
Motorcycle taxi riders line up at the Quezon Memorial Circle on April 18, 2026, for a special payout from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), where qualified beneficiaries received ₱5,000 cash aid. (Photo by John Louie Abrina/MB)
Long queues of motorcycle taxi and delivery riders formed in Quezon City and Makati City on Saturday, April 18, as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released ₱5,000 cash aid to transport workers.
The financial assistance was provided to riders who were not included in earlier beneficiary lists submitted by transport network companies (TNCs).
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At the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City and along Zobel Roxas Street near the Makati Coliseum, many waited for hours under intense heat for their turn to receive assistance.
The DSWD said the cash aid covered around 17,600 riders under its program for transport workers affected by the Middle East crisis.
Additional payout venues identified by the agency included the Caloocan Sports Complex and the TLC Park Concert Grounds in Taguig City to accommodate more beneficiaries.
A follow-up payout was scheduled on Sunday, April 19, for other eligible riders who were not able to claim assistance.
The agency emphasized that in-person validation is required to ensure proper verification and prevent fraudulent claims.
It added that it is working on the development of a digital system to streamline the future distribution of aid.