DSWD: Special cash relief payout for unserved Metro Manila PUV drivers next week

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will set a special cash relief payout for unserved public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Metro Manila next week.

The special payout will also include qualified transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) drivers, motorcycle (MC) taxi, and service delivery riders who were not on the initial list or who failed to claim their cash aid on the supposed date of the payout.

The DSWD will announce four designated payout sites in Metro Manila.

“We have identified four payout sites – meron po sa South, sa North, sa Central NCR, para again, hindi naman mahirapan ‘yung ating mga drivers na kumuha, gagastos pa ng karagdagang petrolyo para pumunta doon sa designated payout sites na malayo naman sa kanya,”DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.

(We have identified four payout sites – in the South, North, Central NCR, so that our drivers won’t have a hard time in claiming and they won’t have to spend on fuel just to go to far-away designated payout sites.)

The payout sites will be announced or published by the DSWD before the payout dates.

In addition, tricycle operators and drivers’ association (TODA) and jeepney operators and drivers’ association (JODA) members will receive their P5,000 financial aid by next week.

Dumlao added that there are ongoing verification processes involving the transport network companies’ (TNCs) management to crosscheck their master lists and delete the duplicate entries among their riders.

“Patuloy po yung isinasagawa natin na mga pagpupulong po sa kanila para magkaroon tayo nga ng kumbaga, mag compare tayo ng mga listahan ng mga drivers para hindi po maulit yung mga pangalan ng mga drivers,” she said.

(We are constantly meeting with them so that we can compare the lists of drivers so there won’t be duplication.)

She assured PUV drivers and riders that funds allocated under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program remain sufficient to cover all target beneficiaries.

“Sasapat naman po yung P30 billion na in-earmark satin para sa cash relief assistance at kahit dagdagan pa ‘yan ano ng same amount para naman doon sa mga ibang drivers outside of Metro Manila, we have more than enough budget for this,” Dumlao said.

(The P30 billion earmarked for the cash relief assistance is enough. We have more than enough budget for this, even if you add the same amount for other drivers outside of Metro Manila.) — JMA, GMA News