The Manila Times
MORE drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) have begun receiving the P5,000 fuel subsidy as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) accelerated the release of funds nationwide, the agency said Tuesday. LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the agency was refining its distribution system to speed up payouts and ensure the subsidy reaches beneficiaries down to the municipal level. “Our goal is to complete the entire distribution process in the soonest possible time. It cannot be delayed any longer because gasoline and diesel prices continue to surge upward,” Mendoza said. Latest LTFRB data showed that nearly P1 billion had already been distributed nationwide. The National Capital Region accounted for the largest share at P200 million, followed by the LTFRB central office with P150 million, Calabarzon with P99 million, Central Visayas with nearly P86 million, Central Luzon with P82 million, and Northern Mindanao with P69 million. Beneficiaries include drivers and operators of modern and traditional jeepneys, UV Express units, regular and point-to-point buses, transport network vehicle service (TNVS) partners, taxis, and tricycles. Delivery service providers and motorcycle taxi riders are also covered by the program. Mendoza said regional directors had been instructed to strengthen coordination with other government agencies and transport stakeholders to further expedite distribution in their respective areas. He added that the LTFRB is working closely with transport groups to verify beneficiaries and prevent fraudulent claims. “We assure our kababayan that the entire government is working together not only to release the fuel subsidy in the soonest possible time but in finding other ways to assist the PUV sector,” Mendoza said. Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin distributing cash relief assistance to tricycle drivers affected by rising fuel prices outside the National Capital Region on Wednesday, April 8. A total of 146 payout sites across 121 cities nationwide have been identified in coordination with local government units to facilitate the distribution. The agency aims to assist more than 328,000 tricycle drivers listed by LGUs as eligible beneficiaries. Each qualified beneficiary is set to receive P5,000 in financial assistance to help ease the burden of increasing fuel costs. DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the rollout fulfills commitments made by government leaders. “As promised by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the department will start distributing cash assistance to tricycle drivers outside Metro Manila,” Dumlao said. The lists of beneficiaries were submitted by LGUs to DSWD Field Offices for validation and implementation. The payout sites are spread across multiple regions, including Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, to ensure wide coverage. Help desks will be stationed at all venues to assist drivers who may encounter issues such as exclusion from the beneficiary list. The DSWD urged tricycle drivers to coordinate with their respective LGUs and monitor official channels for updates on the cash assistance program. Also on Tuesday, Sen. Erwin Tulfo called for a broader approach to government assistance, urging policymakers to extend support beyond the country’s poorest households to include minimum wage earners and other low-income workers. Speaking during a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, Tulfo emphasized that current aid frameworks risk overlooking a significant portion of the labor force. “We have to look at everybody, not just the poorest of the poor. What about the backbone of our labor force, those earning minimum wage or even below?” he said. Tulfo raised concerns over the government’s focus on sectors traditionally prioritized for assistance, such as transport workers, farmers, fishermen, and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). He pointed out that workers like cashiers, janitors, and security guards — many of whom earn minimum wage — often fall outside these programs despite facing similar economic vulnerabilities. The senator said there was a need for a more inclusive framework that recognizes the challenges faced by the broader working class, particularly amid rising costs and global uncertainties. Tulfo also cautioned against relying solely on continuous financial aid, warning that such an approach may not be sustainable in the long run. “4Ps should not only provide immediate relief but also serve as a bridge to long-term development, while livelihood programs must equip beneficiaries to become self-reliant,” he said. He underscored the importance of integrating cash assistance with skills training and employment opportunities to help beneficiaries transition to financial independence.
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