Article by:
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the distribution of PHP5,000 in cash assistance to each tricycle driver beneficiary in Metro Manila, as the government rolled out its fuel subsidy program aimed at easing the impact of rising oil prices.
Marcos oversaw the distribution of the financial aid at ASAC Covered Court in Sta. Mesa to support public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers affected by the continued increase in the prices of petroleum products amid the Middle East crisis.
Speaking to reporters after the distribution, Marcos said around 30,000 tricycle drivers received the fuel subsidies during the initial aid rollout.
“This is just the beginning of the distribution. This is something that we have to do because of the sudden increase in oil prices,” he said.
“Ganito ang nangyari. Pataas ng pataas lahat ng petroleum products kaya’t we have to do this para matulungan naman ang ating [mga kababayan] (This is what happened: the prices of all petroleum products keep going up, so we have to do this in order to help our people),” Marcos added.
Marcos said the assistance would first cover tricycle drivers, followed by jeepney drivers and transport network vehicle services (TNVS) drivers.
“Our records are not [yet complete]. Hindi kumpleto ang record natin sa TNVS. 'Yung sa jeepney, susunod din. Siguro late this week or early next week (Our records for TNVS drivers are still incomplete. As for the jeepney drivers, they will follow next, probably late this week or early next week),” he said.
The first payouts will cover around 135,196 tricycle drivers, according to data from the Office of the Executive Secretary.
The cash subsidies were sourced from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The DSWD coordinated with the Department of Transportation and local government units to identify the beneficiaries.
The cash aid will be released at designated payouts in Metro Manila to expedite the process and allow drivers to return to work after receiving the subsidy.
The DSWD earlier said distribution of aid would be conducted in three days to ensure the unhampered operations of tricycle drivers. (PNA)
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