More than 1.13 million public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers nationwide have received the government’s P5,000 fuel subsidy, with total disbursements exceeding P5.6 billion as of April 25, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said.
The assistance, released under the agency’s crisis support program, aims to help drivers cope with rising fuel prices and basic commodity costs driven by global oil supply pressures linked to Middle East tensions.
Based on DSWD data, the largest share went to tricycle drivers, who received about P4.21 billion covering 841,789 beneficiaries. Jeepney drivers received P202 million for 40,433 beneficiaries, while Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers were allocated P201 million for 40,137 beneficiaries. Motorcycle taxi drivers received P1.04 billion for 207,974 beneficiaries.
“Patuloy ang DSWD, kasama ang Angels in Red Vests sa lahat ng panig ng bansa, sa maayos at mabilis na pamamahagi ng tulong para matiyak na makarating ito sa mga tsuper na direktang naapektuhan ng mahal na presyo ng produktong petrolyo,” the agency said.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said payouts are expected to rise as distribution continues in several regions, particularly outside Metro Manila.
He added that the agency aims to complete the first round of payouts by April 30, with a second round being prepared, including the possible use of e-wallets for faster disbursement.
Gatchalian said the rollout faced delays due to issues in beneficiary lists submitted by transport groups, including incorrect details, duplicate entries, and cases where drivers were listed under multiple categories such as delivery and ride-hailing services.
Some individuals also attempted to claim the subsidy more than once, prompting stricter validation during face-to-face payouts. He said the verification process helped prevent significant losses.
“Imagine niyo ‘to, kung nung unang beses pa lang nag-deposit na kami agad sa mga e-wallet, ang nagbabadyang mawala sa pondo ng gobyerno ay P2.7 billion,” he said.
The DSWD said the subsidy, distributed under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, is part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs on transport workers who rely on daily earnings.