Ilocos region: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is aiming to serve 5,880 tricycle drivers in the Ilocos Region with cash relief assistance during a two-day distribution event that commenced on Monday.

According to Philippines News Agency, DSWD regional information officer Kristine Sheila Amoroso stated in a phone interview that 87 tricycle drivers from Ilocos Norte, 519 in Ilocos Sur, 1,588 in La Union, and 1,824 in Pangasinan received the assistance on the first day. An additional 525 drivers in Ilocos Norte and 1,337 in La Union are scheduled to receive their aid on Tuesday. Overall, these drivers are part of a larger group of 367,000 tricycle driver-beneficiaries outside Metro Manila.

Each beneficiary receives PHP5,000 as part of the relief effort. Amoroso mentioned that DSWD has already disbursed over PHP153 million to aid 30,601 tricycle drivers in the Ilocos Region as of April 20. The cash relief is intended to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices due to the Middle East conflict.

The distribution of cash aid to tricycle drivers outside Metro Manila began on April 8 and is set to conclude by the end of this month.