Tricycle drivers in Batac City, Ilocos Norte on Wednesday each received PHP 4,000 financial assistance from the provincial government.

Around PHP6.2 million were distributed by the provincial government’s Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) to 1,547 tricycle drivers to help them cope with the continuing rise in fuel prices.

Under the Phase 2 of the program, the local government has decided to give cash to the trike drivers instead of fuel card vouchers in partnership with gasoline stations, MINC project head Althea Nicolette Pilar said.

This way, the beneficiaries can have more freedom on how to spend the financial aid.

Pilar said more trike drivers who have not registered with MINC will receive cash aid in the next few days once they finish submitting the required documents.

“For the longest time, it is only now that we feel the government’s presence helping us with our needs,” John Alonzo, a trike driver from Barangay Baay, said.

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

Aside from the cash aid to PUVs, farmers and fisherfolk here have also received their share of fuel subsidy program courtesy of the national and local governments. (PNA)