DSWD plans special payout next week for NCR tricycle drivers missing aid

Tricycle drivers in the National Capital Region who were not able to receive cash assistance this week amid rising fuel prices will be accommodated in a special payout next week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Saturday.

"Walang naka-schedule ngayon, pero kahapon mayroon kaming payout. Next week, mag-uumpisa naman na tayo sa iba pang drivers... Puwede tayong mag-schedule ng special payout next week, para ma-accommodate ang mga tricycle driver na hindi na-serve nitong mga nakaraang araw," DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(There is no scheduled payout today [for tricycle drivers] but we had one yesterday. Next week, we will start the payout for other drivers... We can schedule a special payout next week to accommodate tricycle drivers who were not served in the past few days.)

 

Dumlao said more than 120,000 tricycle drivers in NCR were on their clean list to receive the P5,000 cash assistance to be given amid the rising cost of fuel products as a result of the US-Israel war against Iran in the Middle East.

Of this number, more than 90,000 tricycle drivers received their cash assistance in the past three days, she added.

"Noong nagsagawa tayo ng deduplication, more than 120,000 [na tricycle drivers sa NCR] ang lumalabas sa clean list [na makatatanggap ng ayuda]. Nu'ng nakaraang tatlong araw, mahigit 90,000 'yung na-serve natin," Dumlao said.

(When we conducted a deduplication, more than 120,000 [tricycle drivers in NCR] appeared on our clean list [to receive cash aid]. In the past three days, more than 90,000 were served.)

However, there were tricycle drivers who were not able to claim their cash assistance during the payout days.

"May mga hindi nakapunta nu'ng araw ng kanilang payout. May mga karagdagan pang hindi na-serve... Mayroon pa tayong hinahanap na ilang tricycle drivers. By next week, magsasagawa tayo ng special payout para sa kanila," Dumlao said.

(There were some who were not able to go on the day of their payout. There were drivers who were not served... We are also looking for some more tricycle drivers. By next week, we will hold a special payout for them.)

"Magkakaroon ng special payout but that would be announced by the LGUs para masabihan ang mga tricycle driver," she added.

(There will be a special payout but that would be announced by the local government units so they can advise the tricycle drivers.)

Some tricycle drivers were not given their cash assistance since certain information and requirements were lacking.

Dumlao said drivers need to personally present their valid driver's license and its photocopy when claiming the cash assistance.

"We are very careful sa pag-distribute ng pera... Kapag 'yung driver ay hindi makapunta sa schedule payout, tinatanong namin bakit... Kasi kinakailangan, physically present," she said.

(We are very careful in distributing the cash... If the driver could not go to the scheduled payout, we ask why, because he has to be physically present.)

Meanwhile, regarding the tricycle driver who was confined at a hospital at the time of the payout and eventually passed away, Dumlao said: "Nu'ng araw na nagpunta ang anak at sinabi na hindi makakapunta ang kanyang ama dahil nasa ospital o may sakit, ang sinabi ng ating social worker, puwede namang pumunta sa ibang araw." (When the daughter went to the payout venue and said her father is in the hospital and was sick, our social worker said he can go on another day.)

"Pero for the meantime, sabi nu'ng staff, pumunta sa aming Crisis Intervention Unit... Du'n sa araw pa lang na 'yun, binigyan na natin ng medical assistance," Dumlao said. (But for the meantime, the staff told her that she can go to our Crisis Intervention Unit... That very day, we gave medical assistance.)

"Kami sa DSWD, dahil talagang considered na in crisis situation ang pamilya, tinulungan din namin. May karagdagang assistance," she added. (We at DSWD gave additional assistance because the family was considered to be in a crisis situation.)

Dumlao however said they will review their policy of having the beneficiary be physically present during the payout schedule.

"Pag-aaralan din natin ito [na kailangang physically present ang driver]. Baka puwedeng (We will study this. Maybe we can consider) case-to-case basis ito. We'll definitely study our guidelines. If there is a need to amend some provisions of that... we will carefully study the possibility," she said.

Other drivers

Meanwhile, the DSWD will give cash assistance to other drivers of public transportation as follows, Dumlao said:

• TNVS drivers - Tuesday, March 24
• Jeepney drivers - Wednesday, March 25
• Delivery service drivers - Thursday and Friday, March 26 and 27
• Motorcycle taxi riders - Saturday, March 28

 

The payout venues will be announced on Monday, she said.

Dumlao said the cash assistance being given this month are for drivers in NCR. Drivers outside NCR will be served after Holy Week.

"Itong mga nabanggit ay 'yung operating within the NCR... Tinatapos pa natin ang NCR... Hindi naman kailangang mag-alala ng ibang drivers outside Metro Manila. After Holy Week, mag-uumpisa naman tayo ng distribution sa kanila," Dumalo said.

(These are for drivers operating within the NCR. We are finishing the payouts in NCR. Other drivers outside Metro Manila need not worry. After Holy Week, we will start the distribution for them.)

The DSWD spokesperson said they are targeting to give cash assistance in NCR to 34,000 TNVS drivers, more than 20,000 jeepney drivers, more than 67,000 delivery service riders, and more than 34,000 motorcycle taxi riders to help them cope with the high cost of fuel amid the conflict in the Middle East. All in all, that is around more than 120,000 drivers in NCR.

"'Yung TNVS, ang target natin ay nasa around 34,000. 'Yung jeepney, mahigit 20,000... 'Yung mga delivery service riders, mahigit 67,000. 'Yung motorcycle taxis, mahigit 34,000. More than 120,000 within the NCR," she said.

The cash assistance is being given under DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

Each venue will have a joint help desk to be manned by representatives of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and other groups and organizations, Dumlao said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation will be the one who will provide cash assistance to taxi drivers, she said. 

According to an oil industry source, the projected pump price increases next week are the following:

    Diesel - P14.00 to P14.50 per liter
    Gasoline - P7.00 to P7.50 per liter

These projections could push the retail prices of diesel to as much as P130 per liter, and gasoline to breach the P100 per liter mark following the double-digit hikes this week.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the immediate release of P21.47 billion in public funds to roll out fuel subsidies and sustain infrastructure projects, the Department of Budget and Management said Friday.

Malacañang on Friday called on the public transport sector, particularly drivers, to trust the government’s measures amid their continued demand for Marcos to address rising petroleum prices. —KG, GMA Integrated News