DSWD Rolls Out P60.4 Million Cash Relief for Tricycle Drivers in Zamboanga Peninsula
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched a significant cash relief initiative, providing assistance to 12,094 tricycle drivers across the Zamboanga Peninsula region. This large-scale program, announced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, aims to support vulnerable transport workers amid a global oil price crisis.
Coordinated Distribution Across Five Key Cities
According to DSWD-Zamboanga Peninsula Information Officer Ivan Eric Salvador, the initial rollout was conducted in coordination with various local government units. The assistance targets five major cities in the region, with specific beneficiary numbers detailed as follows:
- Zamboanga City: 4,353 drivers
- Pagadian City: 2,863 drivers
- Dapitan City: 1,008 drivers
- Dipolog City: 2,405 drivers
- Isabela City: 1,465 drivers
Each tricycle driver recipient will receive P5,000, culminating in a total disbursement of P60.4 million. This national government effort, spearheaded by the DSWD, is a direct response to the escalating fuel prices triggered by the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Ensuring Transparent and Timely Aid Delivery
DSWD-Zamboanga Peninsula Director Riduan Hadjimuddin emphasized the establishment of help desks at every distribution center to assist drivers and address any concerns during the payout process. Hadjimuddin assured that the delivery of assistance would be both timely and transparent, prioritizing the safeguarding and support of vulnerable transport workers in the region.
Local Government Complements with Additional Aid for PUJ Drivers
Simultaneously, the Zamboanga City government rolled out its own cash aid program on Wednesday, April 8, allocating P4.7 million to Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers. Socorro Rojas, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), reported that a total of 2,373 PUJ drivers from the first and second districts will benefit from this local initiative.
Each identified PUJ driver beneficiary will receive P2,000, amounting to the total P4.7 million, aimed at alleviating the burden of rising fuel costs. The payout for this program is being conducted at the Mayor Vitaliano Agan Coliseum in Tetuan Village, Zamboanga City.
These combined efforts by national and local authorities highlight a proactive approach to mitigating the economic impact of global fuel price hikes on essential transport workers in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
