DSWD keeps manual payout for PUV aid, cites verification issues

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is prioritizing verification over speed in the rollout of cash assistance for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, explaining why payouts have yet to be fully digitized.

Speaking at a press briefing, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the initial phase is focused on ensuring that aid reaches legitimate beneficiaries.

“We have to have a form of validation and verification dahil ito ang unang bugso. Kailangan makita namin, una, totoong mga tao ba ito? Pangalawa, itong mga taong ito ba ay totoong mga driver.”

(We need a form of validation and verification because this is the initial rollout. We need to see, first, if these are real people, and second, if they are legitimate drivers.)

He said the agency needs to validate whether recipients are real individuals and active drivers, as this is the first tranche of the program.

Digital rollout possible

Gatchalian said shifting to digital payouts is possible, but only after the government completes its validation process.

He said the agency has the capability to digitize the system, but the initial phase is intended primarily for verification.

“Tinatanong kami bakit hindi na lang namin gawing digital? Kaya namin gawing digital ito, napakadali… pero this first step is really meant for validation and verification,” Gatchalian said.

(We are being asked why we don’t just make it digital. We can do that easily… but this first step is really meant for validation and verification.)

He added that the approach aims to prevent issues encountered in past aid programs.

The DSWD is also using the payout process to identify inactive or unqualified drivers.

Gatchalian said that if beneficiaries fail to claim aid even after special payouts, they may be considered inactive, deceased, or no longer in the country.

“Pag nag-special payout tayo… at di pa rin sila pumunta, then alam natin these are either inactive drivers, baka namatay na, baka nasa abroad na.”

(If we conduct a special payout and they still do not show up, then we know these may be inactive drivers, possibly deceased or already abroad.)

No duplicates so far

Gatchalian said safeguards are in place to prevent duplication, with multiple layers of verification.

“To the best of our abilities… wala kaming alam na duplicate kasi dalawa ang nagsusuri.”

(To the best of our abilities, we are not aware of duplicates because there are two levels of checking.)

Complaints

He added that the agency is ready to act on complaints if issues arise.

Gatchalian said the DSWD has an aggressive grievance mechanism and urged the public to report concerns for immediate action.

“We have a very aggressive grievance mechanism. I-report nyo sa amin, hahabulin namin.”

(We have a very aggressive grievance mechanism. Report it to us and we will go after it.)

The DSWD is currently distributing cash aid to PUV drivers in Metro Manila, with plans to expand the program to other regions once validation is completed.

P1.28B in aid released

The DSWD said a total of P1.28 billion in cash assistance has already been distributed to PUV drivers affected by rising fuel costs.

Data from the agency showed that 256,040 drivers in Metro Manila have received aid as of March 29.

The program, funded under the 2026 General Appropriations Act, has a total allocation of P30 billion for drivers nationwide.

In the National Capital Region, the DSWD reported that assistance has been released across several transport sectors, including tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, TNVS drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, and delivery riders.

Special payout after Holy Week 

The agency said payouts for beneficiaries in other regions will begin after Holy Week.

Meanwhile, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said that there will be a special payout for PUV drivers in Metro Manila who were not able to receive their cash assistance earlier. 

“Dahil nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga JODA, sa mga LGU, gayundin sa transport network companies, 'yun pong additional list, 'yung supplemental list na isusumite nila sa LTFRB at sa DSWD ay ang magiging basehan natin sa pagsasagawa naman ng special payout after the Holy Week,” she told Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. 

(Because we coordinated with the JODAs (Jeepney Operators and Drivers Associations), the LGUs, as well as transport network companies, the additional list—that supplemental list they will submit to the LTFRB and the DSWD—will be our basis for conducting the special payout after Holy Week.) 

“Gayundin po, 'yung mga drivers na hindi nakapunta doon sa mga designated payout sites, sa mga araw na itinakda, ay makakakuha pa rin nito sa mga special payouts na gagawin natin, again, after the Holy Week,” she added. 

(Likewise, those drivers who were unable to go to the designated payout sites on the scheduled dates will still be able to receive cash assistance during the special payouts we will conduct, again, after Holy Week.) —MCG/AOL, GMA Integrated News