Manila: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday reported that over 250,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers have already received their cash relief assistance (CRA), while more than 170,000 unlisted drivers are now being validated for inclusion in special payouts after the Holy Week.
According to Philippines News Agency, Gatchalian stated during a press conference at the DSWD Central Office that a special payout session will take place in Metro Manila after the Holy Week to include those who were unable to claim their assistance and additional drivers not listed initially. Gatchalian was joined at the press conference by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Board Member Greg Pua and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Supervising Director Carlo Murcia.
As of March 29, a total of 256,040 drivers received PHP5,000 each as cash aid through the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. The recipients include 102,824 tricycle drivers, 86,268 service delivery riders, 22,937 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers, 22,031 traditional and modern public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers, and 21,980 motorcycle or MC taxi riders. So far, PHP1.28 billion has been disbursed, nearing the PHP1.5 billion estimated fund for the first round of the Metro Manila payout.
Addressing concerns about unlisted beneficiaries, Gatchalian clarified that a special payout will be conducted after Holy Week to accommodate both drivers who were unable to claim their assistance during scheduled payouts and those not included in the initial lists. For tricycle drivers, all 17 local government units in Metro Manila are coordinating with their respective tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODAs) to consolidate supplemental lists, which are expected to be submitted by Wednesday.
For PUJ drivers, the DSWD and LTFRB will jointly deploy help teams across Metro Manila to reconcile discrepancies in beneficiary lists. Gatchalian explained that help teams will compare the lists held by jeepney operators and drivers associations (JODA) with those that were paid out, ensuring no driver is left behind.
The DSWD continues to engage transport network companies (TNCs) and operators to secure complete and updated driver lists for TNVS, MC taxi, and service delivery riders. Pua reported that TNCs have submitted an additional 53,000 TNVS drivers, with 24,000 identified as duplicates and 29,000 currently under verification. For MC taxis, 81,000 additional names were submitted, with 3,000 duplicates and 78,000 undergoing validation. Murcia added that around 63,000 additional riders from PEMEDES Private Express and/or Messenger Delivery Service firms have been submitted for verification.
With the ongoing validation, Gatchalian assured that the DSWD will begin rolling out cash assistance in the provinces in parallel with the special payouts in Metro Manila, following the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to ensure every affected PUV driver receives financial aid from the government.
