Tricycle drivers cut back on expenses amid rising fuel prices

Some tricycle drivers are feeling the crunch from the spike in fuel prices and are cutting back on their expenses to cope.

In Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, tricycle driver Jaime Managuit’s take home income from his trips is now only P300 as the rest goes to paying for fuel and his boundary.

He said the P5,000 financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for tricycle drivers like him would be a big help in helping budget their expenses.

Joselito Santoyo, a tricycle driver for 15 years, lamented that half of his earnings now go to gasoline expenses because of the mega oil price hike.

From P200 per day, he now pays P400 for gas. To cope, his family now skips breakfast, leaving lunch and dinner as their meals for the day.

Santoyo said he is not sure if the P5,000 aid from the DSWD will be enough, but said it’s better than receiving no aid at all.

This would help his family buy food, gas, and other essentials in their home.

Other tricycle drivers were relieved after knowing that they would receive cash assistance from the DSWD since it would help them in their expenses.

In a press conference, Edwin Morata, director of the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Program, said the financial aid is part of their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

They will begin the distribution of the P5,000 cash aid to about 139,000 qualified tricycle drivers in 39 sites in Metro Manila on Tuesday, March 17.

The DSWD will obtain the lists of tricycle drivers from local government units (LGU) and verify these by Monday.

Tricycle drivers must have a certification from the local social welfare office and a valid driver’s license. They must also claim the money personally.

The DSWD is studying how to distribute the financial aid in other LGUs across the country.

They are also reviewing the distribution of aid to drivers of public utility jeepneys (PUVs), TNVS, taxi, motorcycle taxi drivers, and delivery riders. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/JMA, GMA Integrated News