By Benjamin Cuaresma
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — More than 5,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers across Northern Mindanao received PHP5,000 cash assistance each this week as soaring fuel prices continue to squeeze the income of transport workers already struggling to survive.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Region 10 (LTFRB-10), in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-10), released over PHP25 million in financial aid under the government’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.
Most of the beneficiaries came from Cagayan de Oro City, where payout centers were set up to speed up the distribution.
Transport groups have long warned that rising fuel costs are slowly crushing jeepney and other PUV drivers, many of whom rely on daily earnings just to buy food and pay household expenses.
For veteran jeepney driver Rufo Taotao, who has spent over three decades behind the wheel, the recent spikes in oil prices caused by tensions in the Middle East have made budgeting nearly impossible.
He said the financial assistance, though temporary, provided relief for his family’s daily needs.
Another recipient, 67-year-old Jesus Antipuesto from Lagonglong town in Misamis Oriental, said it was the first time in his 10 years as a PUV driver that he had received direct government cash aid.
LTFRB-10 said personnel were deployed to different payout centers across Northern Mindanao to assist beneficiaries and ensure smooth distribution.
Meanwhile, DSWD-10 confirmed that cash releases would continue until Friday to accommodate thousands more qualified drivers.
Officials said the assistance aims to help transport workers cope with the economic impact of fuel price increases and unstable operating income.
Despite the aid distribution, many drivers say temporary cash assistance is not enough to address the long-term problems confronting the transport sector.
Several PUV operators continue to complain about expensive fuel, declining passenger numbers, high maintenance costs, and uncertainty surrounding transport modernization policies.
For many drivers, the PHP5,000 assistance may offer breathing room — but not a permanent solution to the growing financial pressure faced daily on the road.
ia/xf
