Over ₱ 8 million were given to almost 3,000 members of tricycle and jeepney drivers associations in Batac, Ilocos Norte affected by the global pandemic.
Athena Nicolette Pilar, administrative officer 5 of the Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC), said Wednesday the bonafide members of the MINC were entitled to a ₱ 3,000 cash assistance and a gas voucher worth ₱ 1,000.
Pilar said the amount was supposed to be released last year but got delayed due to the pandemic.
“This is a big help for our public drivers who are hard up because of the surge in fuel prices as well as prices of basic commodities,” Mayor Albert Chua said in an interview.
Batac City drivers are among the last and final batch of public utility drivers who received cash assistance from the Ilocos Norte government.
During the surge of the pandemic, many public utility drivers lost their job, prompting the city to temporarily provide free rides to commuters, particularly those who go to work in Laoag City.
As part of the recovery assistance to persons in crisis situations, the Ilocos Norte government, through its MINC office, continues to provide cash assistance to the needy and ensure that they get by with their daily needs.
Aside from the cash and fuel subsidy assistance, each MINC-registered driver of a public utility vehicle is entitled to an accident insurance coverage of up to ₱ 50,000 that is valid for a year. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: Philippine News Agency)