Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in collaboration with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR), is working to consolidate and validate the list of public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers eligible for cash relief assistance (CRA).
According to Philippines News Agency, this initiative is in response to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian's earlier commitment to review records and account for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who were not initially included in the PHP5,000 CRA beneficiary list. Gatchalian emphasized the importance of ensuring no driver is left behind during a joint press conference with the DSWD, LTFRB, and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).
The DSWD's Social Registry Office (SRO), along with Field Office NCR, has been conducting coordination meetings and validation activities across Metro Manila's 16 cities and one municipality. These efforts are being made in partnership with the Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations (JODAs).
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao reiterated the department's commitment to addressing gaps in the beneficiary lists. She noted the deployment of on-the-ground teams focused on collaborating with each LGU and JODA to ensure all eligible drivers are included.
The 'Help Teams,' consisting of DSWD personnel and partner agencies, are tasked with validating and reconciling records directly with transport groups. Their work involves live deduplication of driver-beneficiary lists to resolve discrepancies like duplicate entries and incorrect details, ensuring only verified drivers are included for payout.
Dumlao affirmed the DSWD's dedication to delivering assistance transparently and efficiently. She highlighted the collaboration with LTFRB, LGUs, and other sectors to ensure all qualified beneficiaries receive the necessary support.
These efforts are part of the government's initiative to aid PUV drivers affected by rising fuel costs, following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s directive to provide timely and inclusive support to the transport sector. During the initial payout, 22,031 jeepney drivers received the PHP5,000 cash assistance.
Special payouts are scheduled to begin next week for those who were not included or unable to claim their CRA during the first rollout.
