Some 984 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Region 1 (Ilocos) have received emergency cash subsidy under the social amelioration program (SAP) of the national government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Of the total number, 327 PUV drivers were from Ilocos Norte, 112 from Ilocos Sur, 136 from La Union, and 409 from Pangasinan based on the DSWD data as of Sept. 24.

In an interview on Monday, DSWD information officer Darwin Chan said the number of PUV driver beneficiaries for SAP might still increase as the validation, being conducted with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), is still ongoing.

“The total amount paid to the driver beneficiaries was PHP7.7 million,” Chan said.

He added that beneficiaries from Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and La Union have received PHP5,500 each, while those from Pangasinan got PHP11,000 since the province was entitled to the second tranche of SAP.

Meanwhile, some 123,789 household-members of Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) and some 392,803 non-4Ps households in the region have already received their cash subsidy under SAP through DSWD.

Chan added that they have already distributed the subsidy of some 25,013 waitlisted beneficiaries from all over the region, while some 14,074 waitlisted beneficiaries in Pangasinan have also received the second tranche of the cash subsidy.

In a separate interview, Joel Austria, PUV driver from Pangasinan, thanked the government for the subsidy.

“May pampaayos na ako ng jeep ko at pamparehistro na din lalo at matagal kaming hindi nakapasada kaya wala ring naipon panggastos, buti na lang mayroong SAP (I can now have my jeepney fixed and I will also be able to renew the registration of my jeepney. I am glad there is SAP especially that we were not able to earn for a long time and were not able to save enough for the expenses),” he said. (PNA)