The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD 7) began distributing P5,000 cash relief assistance to thousands of public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers across the region on Tuesday, as part of a government response to rising fuel and commodity prices.
DSWD 7 said a total of 4,848 PUJ drivers identified by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are set to receive the one-time cash grant over May 13 and 14. Of the total beneficiaries, 4,606 are from Cebu province and 242 are from Bohol.
The distribution is being carried out simultaneously in multiple sites across Central Visayas in coordination with local government units and transport regulators.
In Lapu-Lapu City, 760 drivers received their assistance at the Poblacion Gymnasium, with DSWD staff working alongside the local government and LTFRB personnel.
The payout site also featured assistance desks to facilitate verification and ensure orderly distribution.
At SM Seaside City Cebu, 968 PUJ drivers from Cebu’s districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 claimed their cash aid, while in Liloan, 848 drivers were scheduled to receive assistance at the municipal gymnasium, where LTFRB 7 officials also conducted monitoring of the payout process.
In Mandaue City, more than 200 drivers received their grants at the Opao Gymnasium, with the city’s disaster risk reduction office providing medical assistance and on-site support to beneficiaries.
Additional payout activities were also held in Cebu City and Tagbilaran City, Bohol, where drivers were accommodated in designated covered courts.
To streamline verification, agencies used BBM Serbisyo QR codes alongside the National ID system, while personnel assisted beneficiaries without mobile devices.
Claimants were required to present a professional driver’s license or, in some cases, a valid temporary license issued by the Land Transportation Office.
The cash aid distribution forms part of the government’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program and is aligned with efforts to cushion the impact of fuel price increases on transport workers.
DSWD 7 said the payout is being implemented in close coordination with LTFRB and partner local government units to ensure orderly and efficient release of assistance across Central Visayas.
Photo courtesy of DSWD 7
Comments