Bacolod city: At least 2,111 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in Bacolod City began receiving cash relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development - Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) starting Thursday. The three-day payout, aimed at mitigating the effects of rising fuel prices due to the Middle East conflict, is taking place at SM City Bacolod with support from the city's Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).
According to Philippines News Agency, each beneficiary is set to receive PHP5,000. DSSD head Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga explained that the beneficiaries are PUJ drivers listed in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) database, which was provided to the DSWD for the distribution of aid. Verdeprado-Mangga noted that while the current relief is for jeepney drivers, updates are awaited for other sectors like taxi drivers.
Rudy Catedral, president of the Bacolod Alliance of Commuters, Operators, and Drivers-Manibela, expressed gratitude for the assistance provided to jeepney drivers in their group. He acknowledged the role of the local government unit in endorsing their inclusion in the list, despite the lack of consolidation and renewal of their licenses. The LTFRB's approval of their request for aid was a significant relief for the drivers.
Last month, a similar initiative benefited 13,026 tricycle drivers in the city, who also received the PHP5,000 cash relief assistance. The distribution included 9,617 drivers in the initial batch and an additional 3,409 beneficiaries in the final batch, as recorded by the DSSD.
