The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Wednesday the government would give cash aid to a total of 435,619 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers amid the extended enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.
Martin Delgra III, LTFRB Chairman, said the beneficiaries include about 380,508 drivers of four-wheeled PUVs such as buses, jeepneys, UV Express, and transport network vehicle service, among others. Around 55,111 motorcycle taxi bikers from Angkas, JoyRide, and Move It would also benefit from the program.
Delgra said LTFRB already submitted more than 200,000 names to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for cross-matching to avoid duplication.
According to Delgra, around 4,000 drivers of ride-hailing firms like Grab are among the first batch of beneficiaries of the government’s social amelioration program. The drivers could now get their financial assistance from any nearest Landbank branch.
The qualified beneficiaries will each receive financial aid of P5,000 for those living outside Metro Manila, and P8,000 for those in the capital region, for two months.
The enhanced community quarantine hit the transport sector as the ECQ bans all forms of public transportation in the entire Luzon until April 30. PUV drivers also belong to the group of “no work, no pay workers.”
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LTFRB: 435,619 PUV drivers to receive cash aid from gov’t
Delgra said they are also considering other means of cash aid distribution such as mobile cash transfers like GCash and Paymaya due to the limitations of over-the-counter bank transactions.
“We need to expedite the giving of financial assistance. We know that there are limitations kapag over-the-counter ang pagbibigay. Lalabas pa ‘yung mga tao ng bahay, and contend with other restrictions on the road. So, we are now trying to finalize the agreement on using payment processing platforms like G-Cash and PayMaya,” Delgra said.
(We need to expedite the giving of financial assistance. We know that there are limitations to over-the-counter distribution. The drivers will need to go out and contend with other restrictions on the road. So, we are now trying to finalize the agreement on using payment processing platforms like GCash and PayMaya.)
PUV drivers who were included in the LTFRB’s list of beneficiaries mus present their original driver’s license and a photocopy of the license with two signatures to a Landbank branch to claim the financial assistance.
Those who will send a representative must present an authorization letter signed by the driver, the driver’s license of the beneficiary, a photocopy of the license with two signatures, and a valid government-issued ID of the representative.
The Landbank waved all fees and charges for the cash grant.