Jonathan Frederic De Santos

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)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1777451433150177666566901020260324-tnvs-cash-aid-distribution-qc-MT15.jpg.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>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 </div>MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it is cleaning up a list of aid beneficiaries in the transport sector of errors and inconsistencies, including names that were included more than once.DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian told a special committee on government response to the Middle East oil crisis that the department has earmarked P30 billion in assistance to public utility drivers. He also said around 1.14 million public utility drivers, including tricycle, jeepney, delivery and motorcycle taxi drivers have already received assistance.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/23/dswd-gov-t-could-have-lost-p2-7b-to-ghost-drivers-without-physical-payout-1718">DSWD: Gov&#x27;t could have lost P2.7B to &#x27;ghost&#x27; drivers without physical payout </a></div>He said around P5.7 billion in assistance has been distributed so far.&quot;But, uh, what we found out from this exercise is the lack of a clean list. The context of DSWD has always been we go in, we do the payout, we do the intake, pero as long as may clean list. But what was promised to us as a clean list by the [Transportation Network Companies] more particularly is now what we call a junk list,&quot; he added.He said DSWD found &quot;duplicates, triplicates, errors in names and everything&quot; that required further checking of the lists and requiring beneficiaries to personally appear at payout centers,&quot;The average claim rate namin sa mga payout centers namin is only 80 percent.Meaning, 20 percent — they don&#x27;t show up,&quot; he said.Gatchalian explained that upon further validation, some of the supposed beneficiaries were not qualified for assistance.&quot;Meron hong pumupunta, expired ang driver&#x27;s license. So how can you call yourself a driver? Meron pumupunta ho doon, wala talagang driver&#x27;s license,&quot; Gatchalian said, adding some drivers had tried to file multiple applications for assistance.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/20/dswd-to-shift-to-e-wallet-cash-aid-distribution-after-rider-dies-in-queue-1420">DSWD to shift to e-wallet cash aid distribution after rider dies in queue </a></div>The DSWD secretary earlier said that releasing the funds to digital wallets without verification could have cost the government billions.The government earlier suspended the distribution of cash aid via online channels due to verification issues. — RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it is cleaning up a list of aid beneficiaries in the transport sector of errors and inconsistencies, including names that were included more than once.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it is cleaning up a list of aid beneficiaries in the transport sector of errors and inconsistencies, including names that were included more than once.

DSWD says purging 'junk list' of ayuda beneficiaries in transport sector

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DSWD says purging 'junk list' of ayuda beneficiaries in transport sector

ABS-CBN News

Published April 29, 2026 04:34 PM PHT

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Updated April 29, 2026 05:24 PM PHT

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Department of Social Welfare and Development

Rex Gatchalian

Middle East crisis

Fuel crisis

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