Bago City gives rice aid to tricycle drivers

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The city government of Bago in Negros Occidental has started distributing rice subsidies to nearly 3,000 tricycle drivers to help ease the impact of rising fuel costs stemming from tensions in the Middle East.

Mayor Marina Javellana-Yao led the initial distribution of rice subsidies to 1,245 tricycle drivers from Barangay Poblacion on Monday.

The beneficiaries from three tricycle operators and drivers associations each received 5 kilograms of rice.

The city government is set to distribute rice subsidies to all other tricycle drivers in the city in the coming days.

The mayor earlier met with City Administrator Edwin De Nicolas and representatives of the City Social Welfare and Development Office, City Budget Office, City Treasurer’s Office, and Office of the City Accountant to discuss the city government’s efforts to help local drivers cope with rising fuel costs.

Javellana said the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Transportation are about to roll out a PHP 5,000 fuel subsidy for drivers.

She added that they are preparing the list of beneficiaries to facilitate the release of the funds once these are available.

She assured support for the local transport sector, saying the local government is already taking steps to help tricycle drivers reeling from the effects of rising fuel costs.

“In these trying times, let’s help one another,” Javellana said.

She said the city government is also looking for other ways to extend additional assistance to local drivers.