Tricycle drivers and operators gas up at a gasoline station in Iloilo City’s Jaro District using the fuel subsidy coupon provided by the Iloilo City government on Friday (March 27, 2026). The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it will start distributing cash relief assistance to public utility drivers on April 8, starting with tricycle drivers. (Photo from Iloilo City Government)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to implement the pilot release of cash relief assistance to tricycle drivers in highly urbanized and component cities and nearest municipalities in Western Visayas on April 8.
In a video message on Friday, DSWD 6 (Western Visayas) Director Joselito Estember said members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) will each receive PHP5,000.
Estember said they only need to bring their driver’s license to personally claim their assistance at the payout site.
“The program is only for drivers, and not for operators. However, if the operator is also the driver of the tricycle, then they are qualified,” he said.
The list will come from local government units based on the franchise issued to TODAs.
“This is the extension of the pilot implementation last week in Manila. For the pilot implementation, we will start with the highly urbanized city, which is Iloilo City, the component cities in Western Visayas, which are Passi City and Roxas City, and the nearest municipalities,” he said.
In a separate interview, DSWD-6 Information Officer Therese Fely Legaste said they are also working with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in preparation for the expansion of assistance to other public utility carriers.
“As mentioned by our Secretary Rex Gatchalian, no one should be left behind, especially for our drivers who are very affected by the surge in fuel prices,” she said.
Legaste said the DSWD will release the cash directly to the beneficiary during the payout.
The local government unit and the DOTr will identify the beneficiaries and certify that they are active drivers experiencing economic distress. (PNA)
