DAVAO CITY(March 19) — Relief is coming—but not soon enough for many struggling jeepney drivers.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) XI said its ₱5,000 cash assistance for transport workers hit by soaring fuel prices will only be released in Mindanao after Holy Week, once distribution in Metro Manila is completed.
For drivers already operating on razor-thin margins, the delay lands at a critical time.
Relief delayed, pressure rising
Fuel prices—driven by global tensions, including instability in the Middle East—have steadily cut into daily take-home income. For many jeepney drivers, each day without assistance means deeper losses or mounting debt.
The subsidy is meant as a quick cushion. But the staggered rollout once again places regions outside the capital at the back of the line.
Who gets left out?
DSWD XI Regional Director Rhuelo Aradanas said beneficiaries must belong to accredited transport associations and hold valid permits.
That requirement, while standard, risks excluding informal or undocumented drivers—often the most financially vulnerable in the sector.
At the same time, Aradanas stressed that no political connections are needed to access aid.
“Hindi kailangan may backer… pwede kayong lumapit sa aming CIUs,” he said.
A familiar band-aid
The ₱5,000 assistance is the latest in a series of stopgap measures aimed at cushioning fuel shocks. But for drivers, the deeper issues remain: unstable fuel prices, weak income protections, and limited long-term support.
One-time aid may help drivers get through a few days—but not the crisis itself.
Waiting game
With Holy Week approaching—a period that often disrupts both income and mobility—drivers are left in limbo, balancing rising costs against delayed relief.
The question now isn’t just when the money will arrive.
It’s whether it will still be enough when it does.
