Baguio City allots P20M for cash aid for public transport drivers

The Baguio City government has allocated P20 million in order to provide cash assistance to public transport drivers amid the imposition of a state of calamity in the city due to the fuel crisis. 

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the amount was sourced from the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund. 

Magalong said jeepney drivers in the city were already given assistance, while taxi drivers will receive cash aid within the week. 

“Unang-una, ginamit natin dito sa financial assistance natin sa transport sector. Natapos natin yung PUJ drivers, itong week natin bibigyan din naman natin yung taxi drivers. The total amount for the transport sector is around P20 million,” the mayor told reporters. 

(First of all, we used it for our financial assistance to the transport sector. We already finished with the PUJ drivers, and this week we will also give aid to the taxi drivers. The total amount for the transport sector is around P20 million.)

Another P5 million was allotted for 1,600 “financially-challenged” individuals.

“Iba pa ‘yung ire-release ulit natin ngayon na P3,000 for those financially challenged naman, this is about P5 million naman. Around 1,600 plus ang beneficiaries nito,” Magalong added.

(This is apart from the P3,000 that we are releasing to the financially challenged, this is about P5 milion. There are around 1,600 plus beneficiaries for this.)

The declaration of state of calamity allowed the city to access its local disaster risk reduction and management funds to address the impact of the energy supply disruptions amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The rising fuel prices significantly reduced the number of tourists visiting Baguio City during the dry season. Tourist arrivals dropped by as much as 50% during the Holy Week.

After the Holy Week, the city government rolled out free rides and an emergency mobility program as a sharp rise in fuel prices hit public transport and slowed tourism. — JMA, GMA News