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)

Michael Delizo

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/177382077699920240516-tricycle-impounding-area-manila-JC-2484 (1).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. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Standing at a payout center in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, tricycle operator Lelanie Macapas listed the expenses waiting at home, mentally stretching the P5,000 cash assistance she had just received.</p><p>“Bigas, ulam, pamasahe, isang college, isang senior high, isang elementary, may binibilhan pang gatas.”</p><p>For Macapas, the money is both relief and reminder of how quickly it can disappear. </p><p>As fuel prices continue to climb, driven by tensions in Middle East, she was left to make difficult calculations: how far can P5,000 go?</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/manila-tricycle-drivers-share-struggles-amid-high-fuel-prices-1637"><strong>Manila tricycle drivers share struggles amid high fuel prices; federation eyes new fare hike petition</strong></a> </div><p>“Saan ’to makakarating? Pero salamat,” she said.</p><p>(How far will this go? But thank you.) </p><p>She added that part of the amount would go to her driver, who was unable to qualify for the government’s cash relief assistance program. </p><p>Macapas was among thousands who lined up for the second day of cash aid distribution on Wednesday in Batasan Hills—home to one of the largest tricycle fleets in Quezon City, with at least 1,500 units, according to the city’s Tricycle Regulatory Unit. </p><p>For many, the assistance is welcome, but fleeting.</p><p>“Ilang araw ko na rin itong magagastos, mga limang araw,” said driver Esteban Robando. “Malaking tulong po sa aming mga naghahanap-buhay na tricycle driver.”</p><p>(This will probably last me a few days, maybe five. It’s a big help for us tricycle drivers trying to earn a living.) </p><p>Alfredo Jose, another driver, said his daily earnings have dropped by half—from around P1,000 to just P500.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/17/some-200-tricycle-drivers-in-qc-fail-to-get-cash-aid-on-first-day-of-distribution-1736"><strong>Wala sa listahan? Some 200 tricycle drivers in Quezon City fail to get cash aid on first day of distribution </strong></a></div><p>“Kung maaari sana ibaba rin ang presyo ng gasolina,” he said.</p><p>(I hope fuel prices can also be lowered.)</p><div> </div><div><strong>DISQUALIFIED</strong></div><div> </div><p>Not everyone, however, left the payout center with cash in hand.</p><p>Vicente Laugo arrived hoping to claim assistance but found his name missing from the master list. He was only asked to submit a photocopy of his driver’s license and advised to return the following day after his details are encoded. </p><p>“Ang meron doon ay ’yong operator ko po. Ngayon, ang gusto kong mangyari kung puwede bang ako ang kukuha doon sa pangalan niya kasi ako naman ang may driver’s license eh,” he said.</p><p>(The only name listed there is my operator’s. What I’m hoping is that I can claim mine under my operator’s name since I’m the one who has the driver’s license.) </p><p>Ian Facunla of the Quezon City Tricycle Regulatory Unit said a valid driver’s license is the main requirement for claiming the aid. But gaps in documentation have slowed the process. </p><p>Some drivers no longer have their licenses, saying these were confiscated, and are left with only citation tickets. While digital copies can be accessed through a government portal, not everyone is able to log into their accounts. </p><p>There are also more complicated cases, such as when a registered driver has already died, and the wife attempts to claim the benefit. </p><p>Despite these hurdles, organizers say the distribution has improved. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/18/house-panel-backs-adopting-senate-version-of-fuel-excise-tax-suspension-bill-1151"><strong>House panel backs adopting Senate version of fuel excise tax suspension bill</strong></a> </div><p>“Ngayon naman po, second day, okay naman po ’yong flow ng crowd kasi konti lang naman ’yong nawala sa listahan,” Facunla said. </p><p>“’Yong mga hindi nasama, kailangan ma-comply namin para ma-encode at ita-try na maisama tomorrow,” he added. </p><p>(On the second day, the flow of the crowd has been manageable since only a few names were missing from the list. Those who were not included, we need to encode theri names and hopefully be included tomorrow.)</p><div> </div><div><strong>‘NO DRIVER WILL BE LEFT BEHIND’</strong></div><div> </div><p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said around 41,530 beneficiaries received assistance on the first day, with another 30,000 targeted across 30 payout sites in Metro Manila on the second day. Distribution will continue until Thursday for the remaining beneficiaries. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/3/18/thousands-of-metro-manila-tricycle-drivers-receive-cash-relief-as-dswd-nears-payout-goals-0943">More Metro Manila tricycle drivers receive cash aid as DSWD nears payout goals</a></div><p>About 139,000 tricycle drivers operate across the region.</p><p>“Ang goal natin tapusin bukas, pero kung sakaling may hindi pa nakaabot, babalik at babalik kami,” said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian. </p><p>“Walang tsuper na maiiwan.” </p><p>(Our goal is to finish by tomorrow, but if anyone is unable to make it, we will keep coming back. No driver will be left behind.)</p><p>The agency added that similar assistance for other public utility vehicle drivers—including those operating jeepneys, taxis, TNVS, and service vehicles—will roll out in the coming weeks, with a nationwide expansion planned. </p><p>Authorities aim to complete payouts in Metro Manila before Holy Week.</p><div> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><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/xNgtBlFwzGI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

Quick relief, longer struggle: Drivers stretch P5,000 aid amid oil price hikes

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Nation

Quick relief, longer struggle: Drivers stretch P5,000 aid amid oil price hikes

Michael Delizo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 18, 2026 04:01 PM PHT

Read More:

Cash aid

oil price hike

tricycle

DSWD

Batasan Hills

Quezon City

Rex Gatchalian

Tricycle Regulatory Unit

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.