A total of 59,149 tricycle drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) have received cash relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program as of 12 noon Wednesday, according to reports from social workers in payout sites.

During Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s visit to several payout sites in Quezon City on Wednesday, he told reporters that the DSWD targets to finish the payouts by Thursday.

“Overall, we are happy and siguro puwede niyo naman tanungin yung mga tsuper mismo kung natutuwa sila doon sa nangyari (you can ask the drivers themselves if they are happy with what is happening). Pero ang goal ng (But the goal of the) DSWD is to finish by tomorrow,” Gatchalian told reporters in an interview at the SB Park Batasan Hills payout site in Quezon City.

The DSWD expects the numbers of beneficiaries to increase once the second day of payout is concluded.

Gatchalian said a special payout will be arranged to ensure that tricycle drivers who were unable to be present at the designated payout sites could still receive their cash assistance.

“Kung may mga mangilan-ngilan na hindi nakarating kasi nasa (If there are some drivers who were not able to come because they are in the) hospital or whatever reasons you may have, sabi ko naman ay makikipag-ugnayan kami sa kanilang mga mayor para may special payout kung hindi sila aabot bukas (we will coordinate with their mayors for special payout if they could not come tomorrow),” he said.

The department plans to start the aid distribution to other public utility vehicle (PUV) groups, such as transport network vehicle service (TNVS), motorcycle taxi, public utility jeepneys, and food delivery services on March 23.

“Next week ang goal namin, Monday and Tuesday ay ta-target-in na namin na ma-payout yung TNVS at MC (motorcycle) taxi, then hopefully by next week ay Metro Manila’s PUJ (Our goal next week is by Monday and Tuesday, we will target to start the payout for TNVS and MC taxis, then hopefully by the following week, the Metro Manila PUJs) and food delivery services,” Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief assured other drivers outside the National Capital Region that the government’s assistance will also be provided to them, emphasizing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive: “walang maiiwanan (nobody left behind).”

“Mga kababayan natin sa probinsya, alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., lahat ng tsuper na nagangailangan ng tulong —walang maiiwanan, tutulungan at tutulungan kayo. Antabayan ninyo, mag-aanunsyo na tayo sa pamamagitan ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan (To our countrymen in the provinces, in line with the directive of President Marcos, all drivers that need assistance –no one will be left behind, help will reach you. Just wait for the announcement through your local government),” Gatchalian said. (PNA)