Some tricycle drivers lament exclusion from ayuda list

Some tricycle drivers were not able to receive the P5,000 cash assistance given by the government amid the rising fuel prices as they did not find their names in the list of beneficiaries.

In Ian Cruz’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, many tricycle drivers of Batasan TODA (BATODA) queued early but it took 30 minutes before they entered the payout center of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Beneficiaries only have to present their driver’s license and a photocopy of it.

However, female tricycle driver Anna Fe Peralta waited for two hours before she received her cash assistance.

“Pandagdag din po panggastos kasi hindi lang po gasolina tumaas, lahat po tumataas. Lalo na sa pagkain kasi mahalaga po yung pagkain. Kasi kung di po kakain, paano ka bibiyahe, lalong gutom,” she said.

(This is an added help for expenses because it’s not just gasoline that went up — everything is getting more expensive. Especially food, because food is essential. If you don't eat, how can you drive your route? You'll just be even hungrier.)

Meanwhile, Oliver Badua used his cash assistance to change his tricycle’s tires.

“Malaking bagay po sa amin ito. Kita nyo po nakabili po kami ng gulong, interior at sa pamilya ko po may pang budget na po kami ng isang linggo o sa susunod pa na linggo,” he said.

(This is a big deal for us. As you can see, I was able to buy a tire and an inner tube, and my family now has a budget for this week and even the next.)

But out of more than 2,000 members of BATODA, only over 1,500 are on the master list.

“Ako 12 years na akong bumibiyahe, bakit yung pangalan ko wala? Tapos yung isang taon, dalawang taon nasa listahan na,” said Gilbert Golondrina.

(I’ve been driving for 12 years, so why isn't my name there? Yet those who have only been around for one or two years are already on the list.)

“Kung kailan magpe-paypout na saka nila babaguhin ang masterlist. Eh ngayon marami po kami dito, halos lahat po kami wala po kami dun lahat,” said Jomar Gaspar.

(They wait until the actual payout before they change the masterlist. Now there are many of us here, and almost all of us aren't on it.)

The president of BATODA already coordinated with the city hall and DSWD to address the problem.

“‘Pag walang middle initial, walang birthday hiniwalay po nila. Hindi naman po nila inalis, hiniwalay lang,” said BATODA president Genlie Pesico.

(If there is no middle initial or no birthdate, they set those aside. They didn't remove them; they just separated them [from the main list].

In Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, some tricycle drivers cannot also find their names in the master list for the payout.

“Doon po sa dating listahan na unang ni-release ng TRD, may mga pangalan po roon yung mga kasamahan ko. Pagdating po dito sa payout, mga wala po,” said Holy Spirit TODA vice chairperson Luren Moreno.

(In the previous list that the TRD first released, my colleagues' names were there. But when it came to the payout, their names were gone.)

The DSWD assured that all tricycle drivers will be given cash assistance.

“Lahat yan masasama at mabibigyan ng tulong pinansyal. Huwag muna po kayong mag-worry na wala kayo sa araw na ito kasi tuloy-tuloy ang sunbmission ng mag listahan,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.

(Everyone will be included and will receive financial assistance. Don't worry if you aren't on the list today, because the submission of lists is ongoing.)

A total of 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila will be given aid, which will be sourced from the funds of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations or AICS.

Drivers of other public utility vehicles are next in line to receive the assistance.

The Department of Transportation approved a one-peso fare hike for traditional jeepneys.

However, transport group MANIBELA said that the fare hike is not enough. With this, the planned nationwide transport strike on Thursday will push through. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News