P5K cash relief assistance

UPLIFTs driver’s situation

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA)--Spending at least P400 for a full day of plying city streets to pick up fares, 41 year old Reynan Supot who drives tricycle number 2928 has to spend nearly twice that amount for the same net income for the day, after the fuel costs increased, threatening his family’s subsistence.

A daily income earner from a tuktuk; a three wheeled ride which can load a maximum of 5 passengers, Supot in fact has a better pick at earning better, as against the conventional Tagbilaran City tricycles which seat only three.

Immediately feeling the pinch on the very first day of the series of exorbitant fuel price increases brought about by supply uncertainty due to a brewing war in the Middle East, Supot, along with many of the 3,000 tricycle drivers of Tagbilaran City have contemplated on stopping and finding alternative sources of income now that picking fares has suddenly become a daily gamble.

Tapos, usa pa niana, mahal na pod ang paliton, (And, one more thing, prices of basic food provisions have also increased), he shared as he added that he has to go home to his hometown of Balilihan daily to bring in the daily food supply for his family.

With inflation in Bohol still below the limits which the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has determined, a rise in fuel consequently drives the prices of basic needs and commodities up, severely impacting the familys whose incomes still belong to the bottom 30 percent.

In the current economic pinch, the government stepped in via the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT).

A Philippine government initiative to manage the "national energy emergency" by safeguarding essential supplies, supporting commuters, and managing rising fuel costs through a whole-of-government approach to protect vulnerable sectors, the UPLIFT provided Cash Relief Assistance of P5,000 for the registered 2959 tricycle drivers who have absorbed nearly P400 of additional gasoline costs everday, to continue serving as the backbone of the local economy.

Funded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development from its package of assistance under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), the government through the DSWD scheduled three simultaneous pay-outs for drivers whose transport business are registered in the city’s Business Processing and Licensing Office.

Beyond this, the City Government through the Tagbilaran City Crisis Management Committee, announced the P1,000 food voucher for all registered households in the city, free rides in partnership with jeepney and multicab operators, P2,000 fuel subsidy for all registered Tagbilaran City Drivers and fisherfolk as the city enacted a P40.35 million Supplemental budget for crisis response.

Kini tanan kabahin sa atong Energy Crisis Social Protection Package klarong plano, klarong aksyon. Dili ni saad lang, kini konkretong tabang para sa pamilyang Tagbilaranon, City Mayor Jane Yap said. .

Kini nga tabang ug konkretong aksyon para suportahan ang atong mga drivers nga padayon nag serbisyo sa atong syudad bisan sa kalisod, (This help and concrete action is in support of our drivers for them to continue their services to the city despite the hard time.) City Mayor Jane Yap posted in her official facebook page.

Calling the drivers the backbones of the daily grind in the city, Mayor Yap, with the DSWD designated three pay-out hub: City Central Elementary School, Ubujan Elementary School and San Isidro National High School, and devised a queuing system to make sure the drivers do not wait for their turns to receive their cash relief assistance.

“Daku ni kaayog tabang sa among inadlaw-adlaw nga pamasada ilabi na karong panahona nga may krisis sa gasolina,” appreciates Reynal Supot, who was visibly elated at the opportunity of bringing a much better dinner for his family in Balilihan.

“Daku na unta ang among kita, apan karon, hinggamay na gyud.” he admitted when he shifted to a 5 seater tuktuk as against the 3-seater tricycle.

On the other hand, Ramir Soliva, 50 years old trike unit 2124 and CRA beneficiary from Taloto District said he is extremely happy that he gets an aid which can help, in this time when fuel prices are high.

Daku na og ikatabang namo ni sa ang-adlaw-adlaw nga gasoline ug panginahanglan sa matag adlaw. Thank you kayo sa DSWD, presidente, mayor sa congressman ug sa gobernador, also says Reynante Jamil, who is among the beneficiaries. (PIAbohol)

TEMPORARY RELIEF. While absorbing an average of P300 loses every day, Tagbilakran City trike drivers are given a short relief with the P5K cash assistance as a government help to sustain them in serving the riding public despite the economic crisis that drove fuel prices skyhigh. (PIAbohol)