Negros island: The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) will commence distributing cash relief assistance to 34,974 tricycle drivers in 19 local government units across the region starting Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the beneficiaries include 30,990 from Negros Occidental and 3,984 from Negros Oriental. Each tricycle driver-beneficiary will receive PHP5,000, aimed at mitigating the effects of rising fuel prices due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Bacolod City, a major urban area, will host one of the payout sites and has 9,617 beneficiaries. Mayor Greg Gasataya announced in a press briefing that the payout will span three days until April 10, with distribution taking place at four venues.
Gasataya explained that the funds originate from the national government and are channeled through the DSWD. The list of beneficiaries was compiled from city applicants and those who applied directly to the DSWD.
The designated payout sites include Bacolod City College, Bacolod City National High School, SM City Bacolod, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central. Additional sites in Negros Occidental encompass the cities of Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Sipalay, Talisay, Victorias, and Silay. In Negros Oriental, payouts will occur in the cities of Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay.
A DSWD-NIR notice stated that the official list of beneficiaries was derived from validated data submitted by LGUs via their tricycle operators and drivers associations. John Paul Ocate, DSWD-NIR public information officer, mentioned that aid distribution for municipalities would follow on April 16, and approximately PHP200 million has been allocated for fuel subsidies for nearly 40,000 tricycle drivers in the region.
Drivers not on the beneficiary list can seek help from the DSWD-LGU Help Desk. The cash relief assistance is part of the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, providing a safety net to support recovery for those facing unexpected crises.
