The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has distributed around P51.145 million in cash assistance to over 10,000 transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers, delivery riders, and motorcycle (MC) taxi drivers as of May 12.
The DSWD said Wednesday that a total of 10,229 beneficiaries received P5,000 each under the government’s cash assistance program for public utility drivers.
The special payout for drivers and riders under transport network companies was held from May 11 to 13 at the SMX Aura in Taguig City, FilOil gas station in San Juan City, and Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Beneficiaries included 2,388 TNVS drivers, 5,961 delivery service riders, and 1,880 MC taxi riders who were either unable to receive assistance during earlier scheduled payouts or were not included in the previous list of beneficiaries.
The assistance was released through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
According to the agency, it has so far distributed more than P6.4 billion in aid to over 1.28 million public utility vehicle drivers nationwide.
The cash aid forms part of the government’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, or UPLIFT, which was implemented in response to rising fuel prices and other economic pressures caused in part by the conflict in the Middle East.