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Around 8,000 Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers line up inside the covered court at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on March 24, 2026, to avail themselves of the government's cash assistance program. The program targets public transport groups affected by massive fuel hikes stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Cahs assistance

Victoria Tulad

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/177459759217120260327070328_173615064b40054480a0cef310ee4cc045addd1353b119be003dc699c7bba518.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Around 8,000 Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers line up inside the covered court at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City on March 24, 2026, to avail themselves of the government&#x27;s cash assistance program. The program targets public transport groups affected by massive fuel hikes stemming from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian apologized and appealed for understanding from drivers who were excluded from the list of recipients of cash relief assistance to help with rising fuel prices.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/27/dswd-points-to-companies-for-missing-drivers-in-payout-lists-baka-lumagpas-sila-sa-quota-1106" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DSWD points to companies for missing drivers in payout lists: &#x27;Baka lumagpas sila sa quota&#x27;</a></div><p>In the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel on Friday, Gatchalian said the biggest challenge for them in conducting payouts is the incomplete lists they received from different sources. He assured the public that they are working on the issue.</p><p>“Whenever there are people who are excluded, kapag may mga tsuper na wala sa listahan, kapag may mga tsuper na dapat nakatanggap pero hindi nila natanggap dahil kulang sa impormasyon, then humihingi po ako ng pasensya,&quot; Gatchalian said.</p><p>&quot;Even if the list is not coming from DSWD but it&#x27;s coming from different sources like LTFRB, I take it upon myself to ask for patience, understanding, at higit sa lahat humihiling po ako ng paumanhin,” he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><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/OQsYy348gXo?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>“One driver not being in the list, one legitimate driver not being in the list is one too many drivers in my book,” he said.</p><p>Gatchalian, however, said he will not apologize for private sector companies.</p><p>“One thing I will not ask for, pasensya for, is yung mga private sector companies. Sila na nagbigay ng listahan ng mga driver nila, kulang-kulang pa rin. I surely will not ask for indulgence doon because I would like to think that the driver should take it up and blame their companies, yung mga TNC nila kasi you were given the authority to already nominate and endorse your drivers, hindi n&#x27;yo pa rin inendorse,” he remarked.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/27/thousands-of-riders-flock-to-quezon-circle-for-dswd-cash-aid-0831" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thousands of riders flock to Quezon Circle for DSWD cash aid</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DSWD CHIEF CALLS OUT GRAB, OTHERS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>According to Gatchalian, they discovered that transport network companies (TNCs) get temporary drivers.</p><p>“Ito yung mga drivers na naka-onboard sa system nila, pero walang mga CPC or mga provisional authority na hindi naman legit. Pero in-onboard pa rin ng Grab. Kaya tuloy itong mga drivers na ito, and I&#x27;ll name check it, it was Grab particularly,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sa Move It, ang nangyari, pero Grab in particular, ang dami na sa system nila, pero pinili lang nila yung ipapadala sa amin kasi ayaw nilang malaman ata ng gobyerno na meron sila mga in-onboard na mga temporary drivers,” Gatchalian explained.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/24/distribution-of-p5k-fuel-subsidy-to-over-8k-tnvs-drivers-in-quezon-city-kicks-off-0904" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Distribution of P5K cash aid to over 8K TNVS drivers in Quezon City kicks off</a></div><p>“Kawawa naman itong mga drivers na ‘to. So ang sinabi na lang namin sa Grab at sa iba pang mga TNC kahapon, without prejudice, hindi naman kami ang regulatory authority nila, kami humanitarian, ibigay nila yung kumpletong listahan. Huwag nilang salain. Ibigay lang nila nang buo, kami ang bahalang tumulong sa mga drivers nila,” he added.</p><div><br/><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/B9hZNQDBm84?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>Gatchalian assured those who have not yet received the cash aid that there will be a special payout for them. DSWD is already consolidating the list of those who were not included previously.  </p><p>This includes jeepney drivers who are not part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).</p><p>“Lumalapit kami sa mga local government units kasi sila yung makaka-detect ng mga single proprietor na mga drivers, yung hindi part ng coops, associations or any unions,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>“So next week, joint help teams between the LTFRB and DSWD will be deployed in the 17 cities of Metro Manila. Ang layunin namin doon, uupuan namin lahat ng kanilang mga jeepney operators and the local government unit para maturo nila sa amin where the gaps are,” he mentioned.</p><p>Drivers may check if they are included in the list of beneficiaries on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) website, where the list is posted before a payout. </p><p>DSWD reposts this, and Gatchalian said drivers receive a notification in their applications.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MULTIPLE PAYOUT ROUNDS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Gatchalian also assured that payouts will be conducted in multiple rounds.</p><p>The payout schedule for those who did not receive aid during the first round will be issued after Holy Week. DSWD will then move to the payout for tricycle drivers located outside Metro Manila on April 8.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/21/98-000-tricycle-drivers-in-ncr-received-p5k-cash-assistance-says-dswd-1934" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">98,000 tricycle drivers in NCR received P5k cash assistance, says DSWD</a></div><p>“Ang ginagawa natin, we targeted the high-density areas. Ano ang definition ng high-density areas? One, cities. Two, the greater areas. Ibig sabihin yung mga municipalities na nakapaligid doon sa city na yun kasi chances are doon nakatira pero nagtatrabaho sa siyudad,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>“Pero, pagdating dun sa TNVS, sabay-sabay yun kasi hihingiin na lang namin yun sa mga kumpanya,” he mentioned.</p><p>The secretary said P30 billion of the P60 billion Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program will be used for the cash relief.</p><p>DSWD will use about P1.5 billion for the first round for PUV drivers in Metro Manila.</p><p>Gatchalian reiterated that DSWD cannot conduct online payouts yet because they still need to perfect the lists.</p><p>“COA is very strict with us na kailangan may verification. Makita namin yung tao. So ngayon, pag may magsabi sa akin, nagbabayad, nagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal ang DSWD sa mga ghost drivers, I will tell you right now, hindi yan nangyayari dahil personal pumupunta sa harapan ng empleyado namin at tinitignan namin,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>“Second, ayaw rin namin yung cases na nangyayari tulad nung sa social amelioration, natandaan niyo before us, niload sa mga cellphone pero yun pala yung mga cellphone numbers luma. So natulog yung mga pera sa mga blank accounts,” he continued. </p><p>“I&#x27;m not saying we&#x27;re not pursuing the digital track dahil yan ang gusto ng Pangulo, but allow us first to perfect the list so that before we move to that side,” Gatchalian said.</p><p>He also emphasized that they have never asked for voting precincts of drivers, just basic information such as name and birthday.</p><div><br/></div><p>.</p>

<p>DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian apologized and appealed for understanding from drivers who were excluded from the list of recipients of cash relief assistance to help with rising fuel prices.</p>

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian apologized and appealed for understanding from drivers who were excluded from the list of recipients of cash relief assistance to help with rising fuel prices.

DSWD chief apologizes to drivers excluded from cash aid list, calls out TNCs

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DSWD chief apologizes to drivers excluded from cash aid list, calls out TNCs

Victoria Tulad,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 27, 2026 03:57 PM PHT

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Updated March 27, 2026 04:09 PM PHT

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drivers

cash assistance

fuel subsidy

DSWD

Rex Gatchalian

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