• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) is preparing a special payout this week for 606 tricycle drivers in Bacolod who have appealed for aid, or failed to claim their grants under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
DSSD Head Dr. Richelle Verdeprado-Mangga confirmed that the special session aims to finalize the distribution for drivers whose names were included in the appeals list, as well as those who missed the first and second rollout phases.
Data from the DSSD shows that the first rollout consisted of 9,617 beneficiaries with 280 unclaimed slots, while the second rollout included 3,409 drivers with 151 remaining unclaimed.
According to Mangga, the department had to navigate various logistical challenges, including inconsistencies in the system, data duplication across other local government units, and technical errors that caused some names to go missing during initial processing.
The DSSD is currently coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) regarding the master list and funding.
Mangga noted that while the goal is to conduct the payout within the week, the process requires meticulous double-checking of names to ensure the integrity of the distribution.
“The ideal situation is for drivers to show up on their specific schedules,” Mangga stated, adding that the department hopes to expedite the process to officially conclude the AICS payout for the city’s tricycle sector.*
