MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the distribution of P5,000 cash assistance to drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) affected by the spike in oil prices due to the war in the Middle East, beginning with tricycle drivers in Metro Manila. Speaking to reporters after the distribution of cash relief assistance in Sta. Mesa, Manila, Marcos said that more beneficiaries would receive aid in the coming days as the war in the Middle East continues. He said the government would prioritize first the tricycle drivers, followed by the drivers of jeepneys and the TNVS. "This is just the beginning of the distribution. This is something that we have to do because of the sudden increase in oil prices," Marcos said. "We are here, the government is here, and we are really monitoring what the new developments are to ensure that our countrymen can continue to earn a living," he added. A total of 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila will receive P5,000 under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program.