Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

An owner traces his motorcycle's engine number from his impounded vehicle at a transport depot near Central Market in Manila on May 16, 2024. Tricycle owners are required to trace engine numbers as part of the requirements to claim their vehicles after paying penalties for violating traffic regulations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177371786049120240516-tricycle-impounding-area-manila-JC-2484.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">An owner traces his motorcycle&#x27;s engine number from his impounded vehicle at a transport depot near Central Market in Manila on May 16, 2024. Tricycle owners are required to trace engine numbers as part of the requirements to claim their vehicles after paying penalties for violating traffic regulations. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Distribution of the P5,000 cash aid for tricycle drivers in Metro Manila kicked off early morning Tuesday, March 17.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/video/business/08/10/23/higit-1-m-driver-operator-bibigyan-ng-fuel-subsidy-ltfrb">Higit 1 milyong driver, operator mabibigyan ng fuel subsidy: LTFRB</a></div><p>Most of the drivers said this will help them cope with the crisis as they lamented that skyrocketing prices of petroleum products slashed their take home pays by more than half.</p><p>&quot;Malaki po ang nawala sa amin, dati nakakapag uwi kami ng P800-900, ngayon P300-400 na lang. Yung iba [pasahero] naglalakad na lang din, mahal din pamasahe at bilihin kaya nagtitipid na rin sila sumakay,&quot; said Vicente Brutas, a tricyle driver plying routes in Manila.</p><p>Lines were long as a total of 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila are expected to queue in 30 payout sites until Thursday.</p><p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr himself led the distribution in the ASAC Court in Santa Mesa, Manila.</p><p>&quot;Alam naman ninyo ang nangyari, nagkagiyera sa Middle East sa pinanggagalingan ng langis, nagtaasan ang presyo ng langis. Wala naman tayong kinalaman sa gyera na yan pero syempre, pagka tumaas ang langis, damay lahat,&quot; Marcos said.</p><p>&quot;Alam ko kailangan nyo yan para kahit papaano meron pa rin kayong kinikita, pag wala ito, napakahirap masyado,&quot; the President added.</p><p>Marcos Jr said this will not be a one-time aid as they will be monitoring the situation in the Middle East and will give out more cash relief if the situation necessitates it.</p><p>&quot;Ito ay patuloy namin gagawin, habang ganito ang sitwasyon, basta nandito ang inyong gobyerno para tulungan kayo,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1842691206392783%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>In San Juan City, around 600 tricycle drivers received the financial aid from DSWD. Many of them hoped that the cash aid will be given regularly.</div><p>“Early bird catches the worm. Para maaga kasi mamamasada pa. P5,000 malaking tulong. Mas maganda kung regular lagi, kahit monthly kung puwede,” said Leslie Capiendo, a tricycle driver for 15 years.</p><p>“Masayang-masaya kasi tatanggap kami ng ayuda. Nako napakalaking tulong nito sa pamilya namin,” said Neil Villarasa, another tricycle driver.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHY TRICYCLE DRIVERS FIRST?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development explained that they prioritized the tricycle drivers because they are the most vulnerable in the rising prices of petroleum products.</p><p>&quot;Napakarami nila compared sa ibang sektor, pangalawa, lahat naman apektado nitong pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo, pero sila yung nararamdaman agad agad kasi maliit yung kanilang kinikita,&quot; said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian.</p><p>&quot;Inuna ang tricycle drivers kasi marami sila at yung listahan readily available sa mga local government units, konting pagsasala, konting pag-aayos lang pwede na ipay-out agad,&quot; he added.</p><p>Funds for the cash relief will come from DSWD&#x27;s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.</p><p>He also encouraged everyone to report those who will take advantage of the payouts, as reports surfaced that there are certain individuals collecting processing fees to be included in the list of beneficiaries.</p><p>&quot;Walang processing fee, kung may masamang loob na nag process niyan, ireport nyo samin. Hindi yan sanctioned ng departamento,&quot; he said.</p><p>By next week, jeepney drivers and TNVS drivers will also be given the same cash aid.</p><p>Gatchalian says he is hoping they can distribute the same cash aid in provinces after the Holy Week.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>FUEL SUBSIDY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Both the DSWD and the Department of Transportation clarified that the fuel subsidy is a separate program, and that recipients of the P5,000 cash relief are still eligible to receive fuel subsidies.</p><p>Fuel subsidies are expected to be distributed by the last week of March.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F947693364464179%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Unlike the cash relief which has the same amount across the board, the fuel subsidy will be proportioned depending on fuel cost needs of each sector.</div><p>&quot;Kailangan namin isaalang-alang ang operating cost ng mga sasakyan tulad ng bus, makakaasa sila na mas mataas makukuha ng bus, mas malaki gastusin ng bus pagdating sa krudo,&quot; said DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MOTORCYCLE TAXIS INCLUDED?</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lopez emphasized that all public drivers will be entitled to fuel subsidies, but the priority will be those drivers regulated by the LTFRB.</p><p>&quot;Ang rule of thumb namin ngayon, basta kayo ay regulated ng LTFRB, kailangan maisama kayo sa fuel subsidy program,&quot; Lopez said.</p><p>&quot;Kung kayo ay hindi regulated, mabibigyan pa rin kayo, ano ba yung hindi pa regulated? Tulad po ng ating motorcycle taxis, yung Angkas, MoveIt, hindi pa yan regulated. Yung delivery riders gaya ng LalaMove, pero lahat mabibigyan,&quot; Lopez stressed.</p><p>On Monday, Marcos also said farmers and fisherfolk will also be given fuel subsidy to ensure food production will continue despite high oil prices.<strong> —With a report from CA Sitson, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WU1P2q3OJWE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QZj5Zi8OQZ0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>A total of 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila are expected to queue in 30 payout sites until Thursday.</p>

A total of 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila are expected to queue in 30 payout sites until Thursday.

Cash relief distribution for tricycle drivers kicks off amid fuel price surge

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Cash relief distribution for tricycle drivers kicks off amid fuel price surge

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 17, 2026 11:28 AM PHT

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