DSWD: 10,000 TNVS, motorcycle taxi riders miss P5,000 aid as firms withhold lists

More than 10,000 motorcycle taxi and transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers failed to receive the government’s P5,000 cash assistance after some ride-hailing companies did not fully submit their driver lists, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Monday.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the issue stemmed from the reluctance of certain transport network companies (TNCs) to disclose complete data, leaving many active drivers initially excluded from the payout.

He, however, assured affected drivers that they will be included in the next round of distribution after Holy Week, with a tentative schedule set for Wednesday, April 8.

“After Holy Week… ilalabas na namin ang cash relief assistance sa Metro Manila… tentative schedule natin Wednesday after Holy Week.”

(After Holy Week, we will release the cash relief assistance in Metro Manila… our tentative schedule is Wednesday after Holy Week.)

He added that payouts will not be released all at once, as the DSWD is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) to finalize validated lists.

Rushing to complete first round

The DSWD chief said the agency aims to complete the first round of distribution as soon as possible, especially amid rising fuel prices.

“Gusto natin matapos kaagad. Ayaw natin na umabot na yung second round tapos hindi pa ito nabibigyan,” he noted.

(We want to finish this immediately. We do not want to reach the second round while others have yet to receive assistance.)

Gatchalian also said the government is preparing for a second round of assistance as oil prices continue to increase.

He added that efforts are underway to consolidate and clean up beneficiary lists to ensure smoother distribution in the next phase.

The DSWD said the upcoming payout will include both unclaimed beneficiaries and drivers who were not initially listed due to incomplete submissions from operators.

“Mas marami ang naka-onboard na TNVS drivers… sadly itinago nila sa amin ’yun for obvious reasons, but together with the LTFRB we managed to secure those lists,” he said.

(There are more onboard TNVS drivers… sadly this was withheld from us for obvious reasons, but together with the LTFRB we managed to secure those lists.)

“Particularly dalawang player ’yan na Grab… and InDrive… itong dalawa lang talaga yung may malaking issue,” Gatchalian said.

(There are particularly two players, Grab and InDrive… these two had significant issues.)

‘Shadow’ drivers

The DSWD chief said many drivers were actively operating but were not reflected in official government records, describing them as a “hidden” sector.

“Ito yung mga driver na naka-onboard sa kanilang system pero walang… authority… sa mata ng gobyerno hindi pa natin alam na nandiyan sila,” Gatchalian said.

(These are drivers onboard their systems but without proper authority… from the government’s perspective, they were not officially accounted for.)

He stressed that these drivers appeared valid within app-based platforms but were not recognized in government databases due to incomplete documentation.

Authorities are continuing coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and local government units to finalize updated lists and ensure all qualified drivers receive assistance.—MCG, GMA Integrated News