Antique: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released cash relief assistance to 3,798 tricycle drivers in the province as an intervention to cushion the impact of high fuel prices.
According to Philippines News Agency, Social Welfare and Development Antique team leader, Darlene Abagat, mentioned in an interview that from April 16-21, PHP5,000 in cash relief assistance was distributed to qualified tricycle drivers in the municipalities of Anini-y, Barbaza, Bugasong, Patnongon, Laua-an, Sebaste, Tobias Fornier, Valderrama, Culasi, Libertad, and Pandan.
The DSWD aims to serve 10,013 tricycle drivers from the 18 municipalities of the province with this assistance. The distribution of cash relief will continue until the end of the month, with tricycle drivers from the island municipality of Caluya scheduled to receive aid on April 27-28 due to their location.
In a separate interview, DSWD 6 (Western Visayas) Information Officer Therese Fely Legaste stated that the assistance is intended to help alleviate the challenges faced by the tricycle drivers. The cash relief can be used to purchase fuel, food, and other basic needs.
Meanwhile, the provincial government of Antique has completed its distribution of rice and sardines to persons deprived of liberty (PDLs). The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, under the direction of Governor Paolo Everardo Javier, provided 9 kg of rice and three cans of sardines to each of the 56 PDLs at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Culasi. Similar provisions were distributed to the 73 PDLs at the Antique Rehabilitation Center and to the 233 BJMP in San Jose de Buenavista.
