• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region (DSWD- NIR) has distributed P169.85 million in cash relief assistance (CRA) to 33,970 tricycle drivers across 19 cities in the region over a three-day payout operation.
Each qualified beneficiary received P5,000 fuel subsidy aimed at easing the financial burden brought about by the continued increase in fuel prices, which has significantly affected the daily income of public transport drivers, according to the DSWD.
The distribution of fuel subsidy were held in cities of Bacolod, Bago, Cadiz, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, Sagay, San Carlos, Silay, Sipalay, Talisay, and Victorias in Negros Occidental, as well as cities of Bais, Bayawan, Canlaon, Dumaguete, Guihulngan, and Tanjay in Negros Oriental.
In a statement, DSWD said the implementation of the CRA is in response to the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide immediate support to vulnerable sectors, particularly those heavily impacted by economic pressures.
Following the successful completion of Phase 1, which covered cities across the region, the DSWD-NIR is now preparing for Phase 2 of the payout, which will extend fuel susbsidy to qualified tricycle drivers in municipalities.
The fuel subsidy program is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to extend support to public utility drivers, particularly those in the informal sector such as tricycle operators, who remain among the most affected by fuel price fluctuations. | GB
