617,806 tricycle drivers to get fuel subsidy – DILG

MANILA, Philippines — Over 600,000 tricycle drivers are set to get their delayed fuel subsidies to cushion the effects of skyrocketing fuel prices, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced yesterday.

The DILG said 617,806 qualified tricycle drivers would receive cash aid either through the beneficiaries’ e-wallet accounts, branches of the Land Bank of the Philippines or off-site payout by local government units (LGUs).

“With the fuel subsidy, we hope to lessen the burden of tricycle drivers due to surging cost of fuel prices,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the distribution of cash assistance is expected to be completed by the first week of July.

The distribution was initially scheduled before June 17 but was delayed due to the verification of accounts of some beneficiaries.

Region 4-A listed the most number of beneficiaries with 162,500 tricycle drivers followed by Region 3 with 83,621 and National Capital Region with 68,165.

The fuel subsidy will be distributed in three batches through e-wallet accounts, over-the-counter transactions at LandBank and on-site payout by LGUs.

A total of 766,590 tricycle drivers were included in the master list of beneficiaries. After validation, the DILG said 148,784 drivers were disqualified for failing to submit the requirements on time.