20% of Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance members yet to receive cash aid

A motorcycle rider group said Sunday that about 20% of its members have yet to receive the P5,000 financial assistance, raising concerns that some non-qualified individuals may have been included among beneficiaries.

“Sa amin, siguro nasa 20% pa ang hindi nabibigyan (In our group, about 20% have not received),” said Romeo Maglunsod, chairman of the Motorcycle Taxi Community Alliance (MTCA), in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

“Dapat talaga i-scrutinize mabuti ang listahan ng mga benepisyaryo. Tingnan kung ang tao ay talagang bahagi ng industriya na dapat tulungan,” he added.

(The list of beneficiaries must be carefully scrutinized to ensure that recipients are truly part of the sector in need of assistance.)

On Saturday, motorcycle taxi riders in Metro Manila lined up as early as dawn to claim financial aid distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Among them was a rider whose wife is seven months pregnant. He had been unable to work for nearly three months following an accident and did not expect he would still qualify for the subsidy.

Despite the gaps in distribution, Maglunsod expressed gratitude that many members of their group were able to receive assistance.

“Nagpapasalamat kami kahit papaano. Nasama na ang hanay namin sa mabibigyan ng tulong mula sa gobyerno, at nagpapasalamat kami sa mga taxpayer,” he said.

(We are still thankful that our group was included among those receiving government assistance, and we are grateful to the taxpayers.)

However, he said riders continue to push for fare increases amid rising fuel prices.

“Sana maramdaman na ang pagbawas ng excise tax sa presyo ng petrolyo. Ang hiling talaga namin ay fare increase,” he said.

(We hope to feel a reduction in excise taxes on petroleum prices. What we are really asking for is a fare increase.)

Industry sources have offered mixed forecasts on fuel prices in the coming week, with some expecting a rollback of P1 to P2 per liter for gasoline, while others project a possible increase of up to P3 per liter.

Diesel prices, meanwhile, are expected to rise by P5 to P8 per liter.—Mariel Celine Serquiña/MCG, GMA Integrated News