396 Dinagat Islands PUV drivers receive fuel subsidy from DSWD
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — The government’s cash relief assistance or fuel subsidy has reached the Dinagat Islands, with 396 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, particularly of three-wheeler transport locally called ‘bao-bao,’ each receiving P5,000.
At the payout held in San Jose town on April 16, PUV drivers received a total of P1,980,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Caraga.
In collaboration with the local government of San Jose through the Municipal Traffic Office, each beneficiary received the P5,000, ensuring inclusivity and leaving no Dinagatnon driver behind.
San Jose Mayor Ruben J D. Zuniega attended the distribution and said that the cash relief assistance came from the national government through the DSWD to help bao-bao drivers, hit hardest by the spike in fuel costs due to the Middle East war.
He added, “Sa local nga lebel, gipangunahan kini sa atong LGU aron masiguro nga maabot ang benepisyo mismo sa mga benepisyaryo” (At the local level, the distribution is facilitated by the LGU to ensure that the assistance will reach the rightful beneficiary), he said.
“Unaha ninyo ang bugas ug gasolina. Kana nga subsidy dili na para lingaw-lingaw kay para na sa inyong panginabuhian,” Mayor Zuniega told the drivers.
(Prioritize the purchase of your rice and fuel. The subsidy is not intended for pleasure or merry-making because that is for your livelihood).
As response to the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide support to drivers affected by the Middle East crisis, the DSWD’s cash relief assistance for the transport sector kicked off in the Caraga region on April 8, benefitting the drivers who are members of the different tricycle operators and drivers’ associations (TODA) in the cities of Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran, Surigao, and Tandag.
Thereafter, various payouts were implemented in other local government units in the region. As of April 16, DSWD Caraga reported that the program helped the 6,902 TODA members in the region who received a total of P34,510,000.
Aside from Dinagat Islands, there are 2,083 beneficiaries from Agusan del Norte (P10,415,000); 1,888 beneficiaries from Agusan del Sur (P9,440,000); 758 drivers from Surigao del Norte (P3,790,000); and 1,777 beneficiaries from Surigao del Sur (P8,885,000). (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with reports from DSWD Caraga and LGU San Jose, PDI)
