MARCOS LEADS DISTRIBUTION OF TRANSPORT CASH SUBSIDY

Solons to consolidate bill allowing BBM to suspend fuel excise taxes

- JOCELYN REYES, Victor Reyes, Raymond Africa, Ashzel Hachero, Gerard Naval, Wendell Vigilia and Christian Oineza.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday led the simultaneous distribution of P5,000 cash relief assistance (CRA) to public utility vehicle drivers in Metro Manila intended to cushion the impact of rising oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict.

During the distribution of aid at the ASAC Covered Court in Sta. Mesa, Manila, the President assured the public that the government is closely monitoring developments to ensure that immediate actions are taken so that the activities of Filipinos, including going to work and school, are not severely hampered.

"We want to ensure that the war in the Middle East will not be much of a problem. You can be sure that we are monitoring and assisting our countrymen," Marcos said.

More than P4.7million was allotted to 945 validated target tricycle beneficiaries in Sta. Mesa.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora joined the President in the event.

Gatchalian, Lopez and Zamora earlier led the distribution of cash aid to 622 registered tricycle drivers from San Juan City at the San Juan Theater, National Government Agency.

The President said the target was to distribute cash aid to at least 30,000 of the 139,000 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila on the first day of the payout.

The payout for tricycle drivers in Metro Manila was set for Tuesday to Thursday.

Gatchalian assured the transportation sector that there would be a follow-up cash aid if gas prices remain high in the coming months.

Marcos said payout for drivers of other public transport like jeepneys and TNVS in Metro Manila is expected to start by the end of the week or next week, along with the expansion of the distribution to tricycle drivers from provinces.