• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) Bacolod said last night that the payouts of fuel subsidy for qualified tricycle drivers will start tomorrow, April 8.
Mayor Greg Gasataya had said that each qualified tricycle driver will get P5,000 in assistance.
“All 9,428 beneficiaries in Bacolod City will be contacted (today, April 7) for your schedule and assigned venue,” the DSSD said in an advisory. “Please come only on your assigned date and venue.”
Venues for the payouts until April 10 include the Bacolod City College and Bacolod City National High School, both in Barangay Taculing, as well as SM City Bacolod and Ayala Malls Capitol Central.
Drivers should bring during the payout the valid driver’s license for verification, and two photocopies of the license with three signatures for submission.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said the distribution of P5,000 cash relief assistance (CRA) for tricycle drivers in major cities in the country will start on Wednesday, to support sectors severely affected by the rising oil prices.
DSWD spokesperson, assistant secretary Irene Dumlao, said the agency will use the “clean list” provided by local government units in the payout of tricycle drivers across the country, including the Negros Island Region.
“The lists provided by the LGUs to our field offices underwent a deduplication process to avoid double entries, or missing names, and ensure that the details are correct. The list will be used by the DSWD for the distribution of cash assistance this week,” she said.
Dumlao said the lists of beneficiaries were provided by the LGUs, which issued their permits to operate.
Under the CRA, each tricycle driver-beneficiary will receive P5,000 to help cushion the impact of the escalating oil prices resulting from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
The CRA is being implemented by the DSWD under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program which serves as a social safety net, or stopgap mechanism, to support the recovery of individuals and families, who are experiencing unexpected crises. | CGC, PNA
