Bago City in Negros Occidental on Monday started the distribution of rice subsidy to nearly 3,000 members of various tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODAs) to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on the local public transport sector.

An initial 1,245 tricycle drivers from three TODAs in Barangay Poblacion received 5 kilograms of rice.

In a statement, Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao said the city government is extending the assistance to public transport drivers on top of the cash aid and fuel subsidy they will soon receive from the national government.

“We are now preparing the list of tricycle drivers. Anytime the fund is already downloaded to the local government unit, we are ready. We are doing everything to help them in ways that we can,” she added.

Javellana earlier met with City Administrator Edwin de Nicolas and representatives from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Budget Office, City Treasurer’s Office and Office of the City Accountant to discuss the city government’s efforts to assist the tricycle drivers.

“In these trying times, let’s just help each other. The national and local governments are doing their part to provide assistance,” she added.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to distribute PHP5,000 in cash aid to tricycle and jeepney drivers nationwide.

On Tuesday, the DSWD will begin the payout to an estimated 139,000 tricycle drivers in the National Capital Region while for the jeepney drivers, on March 23.

Similar financial assistance will also be provided to transportation network vehicle service drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers and delivery riders.

The Department of Transportation, through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, will also distribute fuel subsidy as part of the assistance to the public transport drivers across the country. (PNA)