Some 5,992 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) and delivery drivers across the Negros Island Region, with almost 4,000 based in Bacolod City, received P29.96 million in cash relief assistance (CRA) during the May 28-30 payout, the Department of Social Welfare and Development-NIR said June 1.
Each qualified beneficiary received P5,000 in financial assistance under the government’s relief program, aimed at helping transport and delivery workers cope with the effects of rising fuel prices and increasing operational expenses.
The payout was facilitated by DSWD-NIR personnel, who were deployed across various payout venues to ensure the orderly, efficient, and transparent distribution of assistance.
The activity was conducted in coordination with local government units and partner-agencies to guarantee the smooth implementation of the program, the DSWD-NIR said.
The agency clarified that it was not involved in the identification and selection of beneficiaries. “The official list of recipients originated from the respective TNVS and service delivery companies and was submitted to the DSWD central office, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.”
Following validation and consolidation at the national level, the final list was transmitted to the DSWD-NIR for implementation, it said, adding it was only responsible for processing the payroll and facilitating the actual release of assistance to beneficiaries included in the approved list.
The CRA forms part of the national government’s continuing social protection efforts to provide immediate financial support to workers in the transport and delivery sectors, recognizing their vital role in maintaining mobility and ensuring the continuous delivery of goods and services in communities.
Through the successful implementation of the payout, DSWD-NIR reaffirmed its commitment to the efficient and accountable delivery of government assistance programs and to ensuring that aid reaches qualified beneficiaries in a timely and responsive manner. ||
