The provincial government in Ilocos Norte is preparing the distribution of another round of cash assistance to tricycle and jeepney drivers to provide them temporary relief amid surging oil prices after Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc assured them of the cash aid on Friday, saying each beneficiary under the continuing Pantawid Pasada program will be given PHP3,000.

The first tranche of the Pantawid Pasada program started last year with a total budget allocation of PHP20 million from the Ilocos Norte government, which has benefited over 18,000 tricycle and jeepney drivers.

Under the program, each beneficiary receives a health and medical insurance card, as well as a gas voucher with partner gas stations.

Each member of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association in Burgos is yet to receive a gas voucher worth PHP1,000.

Manotoc said the distribution of the next round of cash assistance will start as soon as the issuance of gas vouchers to the second and final batch of beneficiaries will be completed.

“The government will find ways to cushion the impact of the surging oil prices to all sectors,” he said in an interview with reporters.

The Philippine government earlier reported it has allotted around PHP2.5 billion ($49 million) in fuel subsidies for public transport drivers nationwide.

According to the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC), the amount will be used for the Department of Transportation’s fuel subsidy program, where 377,000 drivers will be given vouchers.

This is on top of the Department of Agriculture’s PHP500-million budget for affected farmers and fisherfolk, who will also receive gas subsidies.

Fuel prices have increased for 10 straight weeks since the start of the year. Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24.

In the Ilocos region, consumers are feeling the brunt of the rising price of goods caused by the ongoing health crisis and oil price hike. (PNA)