• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government is currently waiting for the final and validated list of beneficiaries from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the distribution of a P5,000 fuel subsidy for tricycle drivers.
The financial aid will be implemented under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.
Department of Social Service and Development (DSSD) head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga said that the city has submitted the initial list of 9,610 applicants, which will be checked by the DSWD.
However, DSSD records indicate that more than 300 applications have been flagged for name duplications and inconsistency in the data.
Mangga stated that these entries were identified during a verification process by the DSWD to ensure no double entries exist and all information is accurate.
She assured the 300 affected drivers that they may still receive the subsidy provided they complete their missing requirements but clarified that the DSSD is no longer accepting new applications as it already passed deadlines.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya said that they scheduled a three-day payout period starting on April 8.
To manage the crowd and ensure tricycles remain on the road for commuters, Gasataya noted that the distribution will likely be staggered across four different venues.
The city government reminded the public that only qualified drivers, specifically those actively operating with a valid driver’s license, are eligible for the aid.
While the current rollout focuses on tricycle drivers, the LGU is still awaiting official guidelines from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the DSWD regarding subsidies for other public utility vehicles.*
