The Ilocos Norte government has been expanding its fuel subsidy program to reach out to more tricycle drivers in the province and help them cope with the continuing rise in fuel prices.

On Wednesday, a total of 943 trike drivers received PHP4,000 each from the Ilocos Norte government led by Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc at the village hall of Barangay Cabungaan-B here.

This brings to 2,690 the total number of tricycle drivers from five municipalities and this city who have received PHP4,000 each from the local government in the past two days.

Since Tuesday, the governor and a team from the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) under the Ilocos Norte government have been going around the towns of Pinili, Badoc, Pagudpud, Burgos, Pasuquin, and this city for the continuing fuel subsidy program.

In his short speech during a simple distribution program on Wednesday, Manotoc assured the beneficiaries that “this is just the beginning of support to the tricycle operators and drivers associations.”

Althea Nicolette Pilar, project head of the MINC, said all eligible beneficiaries have been pre-identified as members of the MINC who are supporting Ilocos Norte’s vision to improve transportation services in key economic zones.

The Ilocos Norte government’s fuel subsidy program is separate from the Pantawid Pasada Program, which the national government set up to also help public utility drivers struggling with oil price hikes.

“Thank you governor and to the province of Ilocos Norte for helping us in this time of need. It means a lot to us,” said Rayan Remigio, a tricycle driver from Barangay Lagui here on Wednesday.

Last year, the Ilocos Norte government also distributed fuel subsidies to all MINC-affiliated PUV drivers and operators, with participating gas stations supplying each tricycle and jeepney driver with PHP1,000 and PHP1,500 worth of gasoline, respectively.

The local government, however, said the amount was not enough due to skyrocketing prices of gasoline, hence, the second round of fuel subsidy were provided to the same beneficiaries. (PNA)