Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<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%2F977692821264424%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></div><p>MANILA — Long queues formed outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Office along East Avenue in Quezon City early Friday morning as the agency began the distribution of the ₱5,000 fuel subsidy for taxi drivers scheduled for April 24 and 25.</p><p>Despite the official start of the payout, the morning was marked by uncertainty and frustration among drivers, some of whom arrived before dawn to find their names missing from the masterlist.</p><p>Among those waiting was Dario Alhambra, a senior taxi driver who arrived at the government office before dawn to secure a spot. </p><p>&quot;Kami ay nagsimulang pumila rito bandang alas-2:30 ng madaling araw,&quot; Alhambra said, adding that he rushed to the site after receiving a notification about the two-day schedule. </p><p>&quot;Nagbakasakali akong makauna sa pila dahil alam ko na marami taxi driver nagugutom ang pamilya, nagpauna na rin ako dahil kailangan ko rin po,&quot; he said. </p><p>Alhambra expressed deep concern over the exclusion of some taxi drivers from the current list. </p><p>&quot;Lahat po kaming mga taxi driver wala na pong kinikita sa taas sa laki ng presyo ng gasolina… Minsan umuuwi kami, zero. Ang pinakamalaking kinikita na lang namin, P300. Masama pa loob ng asawa namin,&quot; he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/4/23/new-round-of-fuel-rollbacks-possible-next-week-1525">New round of fuel rollbacks possible next week</a></div><p>The sentiment was shared by Marjun Arcayera, who traveled all the way from Cavite to Quezon City to ensure he would not be left behind by the crowd. </p><p>&quot;Pumunta ako dito dahil akala ko marami na po yung tao, marami na po yung pumila kaya maaga ako pumunta dito,&quot; Arcayera said.</p><p>Arcayera said that the ₱5,000 aid would only serve as a temporary reprieve rather than a solution. </p><p>He intends to go straight to work after receiving the cash, as a significant portion of the subsidy will immediately go toward daily operating expenses. </p><p>“Yung subsidy na P5,000, kulang pa po iyan. Baka ang mapunta lang sa amin niyan, P2,000 kasi panggastos po namin iyan. Kaya kailangan pa rin po bumiyahe pagkatapos nito,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/19/motorcycle-taxi-rider-dies-in-qc-while-waiting-for-fuel-subsidy-payout-1241">Motorcycle taxi rider dies in QC while waiting for fuel subsidy payout</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/qc-mayor-joy-on-rider-s-death-waiting-for-ayuda-hindi-na-mauulit-1018">QC Mayor Joy on rider&#x27;s death waiting for ayuda: &#x27;Hindi na mauulit&#x27;</a></div><p>Both drivers called on the LTFRB to streamline the verification system to avoid sending drivers home empty-handed after hours of waiting. </p><p>“Ang tinatanong lang po namin, baka katulad sa amin, wala kami sa masterlist, baka ang gawa niyan ibibigay lang yung requirements tapos papabalikin po, uuwi kaming luhaan, iyon po ang mahirap po,&quot; Arcayera said. </p><p>&quot;Sana po, sana po na may second ayuda pa po na maibigay po. Kasi yung 5,000 po na iyan, kulang po talaga. Alam niyo naman kung gaano kamahal po ng gasolina po ngayon,&quot; he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/hundreds-of-puj-drivers-in-manila-still-left-off-fuel-subsidy-list-1605">Hundreds of jeepney drivers in Manila still left off fuel subsidy list </a></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/cMTOaH97AP0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Long queues formed outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Office along East Avenue in Quezon City early Friday morning as the agency began the distribution of the ₱5,000 fuel subsidy for taxi drivers scheduled for April 24 and 25.</p>

Long queues formed outside the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Central Office along East Avenue in Quezon City early Friday morning as the agency began the distribution of the ₱5,000 fuel subsidy for taxi drivers scheduled for April 24 and 25.

Taxi drivers gamble on early queues at LTFRB for fuel subsidy despite missing names in masterlist

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Taxi drivers gamble on early queues at LTFRB for fuel subsidy despite missing names in masterlist

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 24, 2026 09:12 AM PHT

Read More:

LTFRB

taxi drivers

fuel subsidy

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