By Jay B. Laurino Tricycle drivers in Lucena City receive P5,000 cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development durin...
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| Tricycle drivers in Lucena City receive P5,000 cash assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development during a payout held in Barangay Mayao Crossing on April 8. (Lucena City PIO) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Cash assistance for tricycle drivers across CALABARZON is underway in several cities under a regional rollout led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). A total of 24,616 drivers from 13 pilot areas are included in the first phase of the regional rollout.
In Lucena City, Quezon, 2,113 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) drivers received P5,000 each at the New Evacuation Center in Barangay Mayao Crossing under the program rollout. The assistance is part of the national government response to rising fuel prices affecting drivers’ earnings across the transport sector.
The payout in Lucena falls under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The agency aims to assist up to 8,022 tricycle drivers in the city through scheduled payouts in the coming days.
City offices, including the Special Project Unit and the City Social Welfare and Development Office, assisted in the rollout of the program across the city. City leadership also expressed support for the program, with Mayor Mark Alcala and Vice Mayor Roderick Alcala backing the effort.
The Lucena payout forms part of a wider rollout in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Rizal under the same regional assistance program. Covered areas include Imus, Carmona, Cavite City, Bacoor, Biñan, Santa Rosa, Batangas City, Lipa, Calaca, Tanauan, Sto. Tomas, and Antipolo.
Payouts are held in venues such as covered courts, gymnasiums, and evacuation centers arranged by government agencies and partner groups. These venues accommodate large numbers of beneficiaries while maintaining order during the distribution process across different areas.
Staff at the sites manage crowd flow, check documents, and record recipients to avoid duplication during the payout process in different locations. Schedules and queue systems are implemented to manage the flow of beneficiaries across multiple payout sites in the region.
The program follows a phased rollout to ensure all listed beneficiaries are served across different areas in the region under the implementation plan. This ensures proper verification and organized distribution across locations involved in the assistance program.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the program aims to reach about 72,800 tricycle drivers across CALABARZON under full implementation. More payout schedules will be announced by local government units for drivers not included in the initial batch of beneficiaries.
The assistance helps drivers cope with rising fuel prices and lower income from daily transport operations across affected areas. The program forms part of government efforts to support workers in the public transport sector across the region.
Beneficiaries must go to their assigned payout sites to claim the assistance provided under the program guidelines set by the agency. They need to bring a valid driver’s license and a photocopy for verification during the payout process at the venue.
Drivers are advised to confirm their schedule with the City Social Welfare and Development Office before proceeding to the assigned payout site. This helps avoid delays during the payout and ensures proper coordination with the distribution schedule set by authorities.
Payouts in the pilot areas will continue throughout April under schedules set by local governments across the CALABARZON region. Other Public Utility Vehicle drivers are advised to wait for further announcements regarding possible inclusion in the assistance program.
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