DSWD Cash Aid Distribution for Philippine Transport Sector

More than 91,000 tricycle drivers in Calabarzon receive P5,000 each in government cash aid More than 91,000 tricycle drivers across the Calabarzon region have received P5,000 each in financial assistance from the national government, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The aid, distributed through the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, aims to support drivers facing rising operational costs due to soaring fuel prices. As of April 14, 2026, a total of 51,381 tricycle drivers in Calabarzon had received the cash relief, with 8,074 receiving assistance on that day alone during the fourth day of simultaneous distribution activities in the region. The DSWD confirmed that the distribution effort is part of a nationwide initiative to complete cash aid payouts to the transport sector by April 30, 2026. Similar programs are being implemented in other regions. In the Negros Island Region, the DSWD distributed P77 million to approximately 15,000 tricycle drivers across Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor, achieving a 92.39 percent accomplishment rate as of April 17, 2026. In Albay, tricycle drivers received P3.65 million in assistance, while in Caraga, 7,500 drivers are set to receive P5,000 each through DSWD subsidies. The DSWD has designated multiple payout sites across regions outside Metro Manila to facilitate the distribution. In Calabarzon (Region 4-A), 12 payout venues were established. Other regions include 15 sites in Central Luzon (Region 3), 12 in Cagayan Valley (Region 2), and nine in Ilocos Region (Region 1). In Metro Manila, nearly 100,000 tricycle drivers had already received assistance prior to the rollout in other regions. The cash aid forms part of broader government efforts to cushion the impact of high fuel prices on public transport operators. The DSWD continues to advise the public to follow official field office Facebook pages for updates on payout schedules, and locations. Special payouts are being organized for drivers who may have missed initial disbursements, with the goal of completing nationwide distribution by the end of April 2026.