For Jeffrey J. Macapagal, a tricycle driver and family man, the daily grind on the road has become far more difficult than it used to be. Now, every liter of fuel comes with a heavier cost and smaller return.
There was a time when ₱300 worth of gasoline could earn him as much as ₱1,200 in a day. But as fuel prices climbed in recent months, his income dropped sharply.
“Dati po, yung ₱300 na gasolina, kumikita ako ng ₱1,200. Ngayon po, nasa ₱400 na lang,” he said.
Like many drivers in Angeles City, Macapagal had to stretch his earnings just to meet his family’s daily needs for food. As a result, savings meant for equally important things like children’s schooling or even small livelihood plans were sacrificed.
His story reflects a wider reality faced by transport workers across the country, as rising fuel costs continue to erode daily incomes and threaten already fragile livelihoods.
Targeted aid for a struggling sector
To help cushion the impact, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) extended ₱5,000 cash relief assistance to nearly 2,000 tricycle drivers in Angeles City on April 8.
For Macapagal, the assistance provides immediate relief.
“Malaking tulong po ito sa amin—pambili ng bigas, pagkain, at pang-araw-araw na pangangailangan,” he said.
More than short-term aid, the program is designed to prevent vulnerable workers from slipping deeper into financial distress.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized that the initiative treats affected drivers as individuals facing crisis, whose livelihoods have been disrupted by external economic pressures.
“Hindi naman fuel subsidy ang binibigay namin. Ang binibigay natin cash relief assistance kasi tinuturing natin ang mga individual na nasa krisis,” Gatchalian explained.
He added that the government is moving swiftly to reach all eligible beneficiaries nationwide.
“Ang goal natin by the end of April, tapos na natin, nationwide nakatanggap na ng first round ang mga public utility drivers natin.”
Local leadership, faster delivery
The successful rollout in Angeles City also highlighted the critical role of local government units in ensuring that assistance reaches beneficiaries efficiently.
“The more organized the local government, the faster ang pag-distribute ng tulong pinansyal,” Gatchalian said, citing the city as a model for effective implementation.
The payout, held at the Angeles Sports Complex, accommodated members of various Transport Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) in a systematic and organized manner, with measures in place to ensure comfort and order during distribution.
Mayor Carmelo ‘Jon’ Lazatin underscored the importance of collaboration in responding to the needs of affected sectors.
“Sa ganitong panahon ng pagsubok, mahalaga ang bayanihan. Ang tagumpay ng programang ito ay bunga ng sama-samang pagtulong ng bawat isa—mula sa national government hanggang sa lokal na pamahalaan,” Lazatin said.
Sustaining livelihoods amid crisis
Beyond immediate financial relief, the initiative forms part of a broader government effort to stabilize livelihoods in the transport sector and help workers recover from economic shocks.
For drivers like Macapagal, whose earnings have been significantly reduced, such interventions help restore a degree of stability that allows them to continue working, provide for their families, and avoid deeper financial hardship.
With the first round of payouts nearing completion, the DSWD is also preparing for succeeding rounds of assistance, including the possible rollout of digital disbursement for beneficiaries with e-wallet access to ensure faster and more efficient delivery.
As fuel prices continue to challenge the transport sector, programs like these demonstrate how coordinated government action—from national agencies to local governments—can provide timely, responsive, and people-centered support.
For Macapagal and thousands of drivers like him, the assistance may not fully offset rising costs—but it offers something just as important: the means to keep going. (PIA Region 3-Pampanga)
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Public utility drivers in Angeles City receive their ₱5,000 cash relief assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs. (DSWD Region 3)
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Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian responds to media queries during an interview in Angeles City, discussing the implementation of cash relief assistance for transport workers. (DSWD Region 3)