By Brian Campued
“Sa utos ng Pangulo, walang maiiwan.”
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will conduct special payouts for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who were not included in the initial list of beneficiaries, Malacañang said Thursday.
During a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro assured that unserved PUV drivers would receive their P5,000 cash aid under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
“Ang sabi po ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa atin, ang lahat po ng nakalista ay talagang mabibigyan po agad ng ayuda,” Castro said, adding that DOTr Sec. Giovanni Lopez also guaranteed the same.
Quoting Lopez’s statement, Castro said some drivers may have been excluded in the master list of the fuel subsidy program due to various reasons, such as duplicate entries, incorrect data, or failure to register with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The distribution of P5,000 cash relief assistance is underway for PUV drivers in Metro Manila and is set to be expanded to provinces soon, according to Gatchalian.
The DOTr has also begun rolling out its fuel subsidy program for all PUV operators and drivers nationwide.
Meanwhile, Malacañang called for unity and understanding amid the current situation instead of politicking.
Castro made the remark when asked about the supposed online clamor for the government to expand its subsidies to cover middle class workers and minimum wage earners.
“Nauna lang po talagang bigyan ang nasa transport sector dahil sila po ang unang tinamaan at kailangang-kailangan nila ng ayuda. Pero ang Pangulo, sinabi po natin, binabalanse lahat ang tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” she said, noting that the government will study the possibility of expanding the fuel subsidy program.
“Ang kailangan lang po natin ay magkaroon ng pag-unawa, pag-intindi at kumbaga lahat po tayo dito ay magtutulungan. Iwasan na po ng iba na manira, magbigay ng fake news dahil hindi po ito panahon talaga ng pamumulitika,” she added.
-av
