CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, will begin distributing cash aid to tricycle drivers starting Tuesday, March 17, following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the program will initially prioritize tricycle drivers because validated lists of beneficiaries are already available.
“Ang napagkasunduan namin ng mga alkalde ng Metro Manila, at later on sa buong bansa, ay by Tuesday next week ay sisimulan na natin yung pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal na nagkakahalaga sa P5,000 sa mga apektadong sektor na nabanggit namin,” Gatchalian said in a statement.
Secretary Gatchalian also confirmed that the program will eventually expand to other transport sectors nationwide.
“Iki-kick off lang natin sa Metro Manila pero sunod-sunod na po ’yan, di na yan magtatagal. One after the other, mangyayari po yan tutal ang DSWD naman may nationwide offices kami who will do simultaneous payouts,” he added.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is coordinating with DSWD and LGUs to ensure a smooth rollout.
“Ang utos po sa atin ng ating Pangulo, huwag na nating hayaang mas lumala pa ang sitwasyon at kailangan ang whole-of-government approach at ’yan po ay ipinag-utos niya sa Office of the Executive Secretary kaya kami ay nagkaroon ng pagpupulong kanina,” Lopez said in a separate statement.
A fare hike for some public transportation units is under review by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to support drivers and operators.
“Hopefully sabi naman ni [LTFRB] Chair Vigor Mendoza na matatapos niya within the week [ang pag-aaral sa fare hike petitions]. So sinasabi ko sa LTFRB ngayon, binalik ko yung kanilang unang rekomendasyon, aralin mo mabuti kasi we have to treat this very carefully with abundance of caution. So imbes na makakatulong tayo sa mas nakakarami at sa lahat, baka mas makakadagdag tayo sa problema,” Secretary Lopez explained.
LTFRB Chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said the agency is eyeing digital distribution for the subsidy, engaging accredited electronic money issuers (EMIs) as payment providers.
“In engaging the services of Electronic Money Issuers, our goal is to ensure an efficient, secure and transparent distribution of fuel subsidy assistance to program beneficiaries,” Mendoza said.
At a recent media forum, Edwin Morata, director of the Crisis Intervention Program of DSWD, explained that tricycle drivers in Metro Manila will be the initial beneficiaries due to the accessibility of validated lists through accredited tricycle operators’ associations.
“This is our first batch under the LGU framework, and we already have lists ready. New guidelines will also be implemented to ensure accuracy and fairness,” Morata said.
The cash assistance program aims to address the economic impact of rising fuel prices, with a projected payout of ₱5,000 per driver, totaling around ₱700 million for the National Capital Region (NCR).
Morata clarified that the program will prioritize drivers with active tricycles and exclude electric vehicles and unauthorized operators to prevent misinterpretation.
“The masterlist of tricycle drivers will be certified, validated, and assessed by their respective mayors and local social welfare offices before submission to the central DSWD office. This ensures minimal errors and avoids double entries,” Morata said.
The NCR has an estimated 139,480 tricycle drivers who may benefit from this program.
To ensure smooth distribution, DSWD, in partnership with local social welfare staff, will operate 39 payout sites across 17 LGUs in Metro Manila. Each site will start operations at 6 a.m. and aims to complete daily payouts by 3–4 p.m. over a period of 2–3 days. Beneficiaries need only present a valid ID and a photocopy of their driver’s license. No interviews will be conducted on-site.
DSWD emphasized that this initiative is a pilot program, with plans to expand nationwide to other transport sectors, including jeepney, bus, taxi, and TNVS drivers, in coordination with LTFRB and DOTr.
Joint Help Desks will also be available at each site to assist drivers with verification or concerns, ensuring that collaboration with LGUs respects local governance while delivering timely assistance to the most affected sectors.
| Written by Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/RAE
