The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that some 4,000 families with transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR) have started receiving their cash aid of P8,000 on April 6, under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Bayanihan Fund: Tulong Laban sa COVID-19. They received their April cash assistance from the nearest Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) in their areas of residence.

 The speedy release of the cash aid of the TNVS drivers came following the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among DSWD, Department of Transportation-Land Transportation, Franchising, and Regulatory Board (DOTr-LTFRB), and LBP signed on April 3 for the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program  to public utility vehicles (PUVs) drivers nationwide affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) amid COVID-19.

Under the MOA, those who are eligible for the cash assistance under the SAP are drivers of public utility jeepneys and buses (PUJs/PUBs), point to point buses (P2P), transport network vehicle service (TNVS), UV Express, taxis, school transport, tourist transport, and motorcycle taxis. Eligible beneficiaries are entitled to P5,000 to P8,000, based on regional minimum wage rate.

DSWD shall provide the cash assistance through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to the target beneficiaries identified by the DOTr-LTFRB based on their database. The list provided by DOTr-LTFRB shall be cross-matched with the database of DSWD such as the Listahanan and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to avoid duplication. On the other hand, LBP shall provide the services for the disbursement of the SAP cash assistance to the identified beneficiaries of the partner agencies.

The 4,000 families with TNVS drivers are the first batch among the target beneficiaries to receive their assistance. DSWD, DOTr-LTFRB, and LBP are working together to also facilitate the immediate release of the cash aid of the other beneficiaries stated in the MOA.  Drivers may check the website of the DOTr-LTFRB if they are included in the list.

DSWD continues  to deliver the social amelioration assistance to low-income families or those on subsistence economy or workers in the informal economy, and with members belonging to the vulnerable sector, assessed to be the most  affected by the declaration given their existing life situations or circumstances, while adhering to health and safety protocols. ###