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Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assures that no “ghost beneficiaries” will receive cash relief assistance for tricycle drivers in Metro Manila.
To ensure that the assistance will reach only the legitimate recipients, tricycle drivers are required to appear physically at the payout sites.
“Now, yung sinasabi niyong patay na, made-detect natin yon kasi nga, kaya nga physical yung payout, hindi yung ide-deposit nalang namin sa account,” Sec. Gatchalian said
[“Now, regarding your concern about the deceased [driver/s], we will be able to detect that, that’s why the payout is physical rather than a direct deposit into an account.”]
The DSWD is strictly implementing a rigorous verification process for potential beneficiaries, especially when it comes to the middle initial and birthday.
Batasan Hills TODA President Genlie Pesico noted that the agency makes a separate list for those who have no middle initial or birthday on the list.
“So, pag walang middle initial, walang birthday, hiniwalay po nila. Hindi naman po inalis; hiniwalay lang.” he said
[“So if there is no middle initial, no birthday, they set it aside. They do not remove, they just set it aside.”]
QC Tricycle Regulatory Division Chief Dir. Benjamin Ibon III confirms it, saying, “Binukod ng DSWD kasi kulang yung information, unang-una po yung birthday.”
He also added that the DSWD assures them that once the missing information is provided, they will be scheduled on another day of payout.
“Inassure naman po ng DWSD na i-comply lang po, i-fill up yung birth date na kulang, then schedule po sila sa Thursday,” he said
[“The DSWD has assured us to comply, fill up the birth date, then they will be scheduled on Thursday.”]
These clarifications come in response to concerns raised by several tricycle drivers whose names were missing from the list of beneficiaries.
DSWD Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that any legitimate drivers who are missing from the list may coordinate with their respective Local Government Unit (LGU).
“Kung sakaling hindi niyo matagpuan ang inyong pangalan sa listahan pero lehitimo kayong driver, ang gagawin niyo lang, magpupunta lang tayo sa inyong local government unit at ia-apela natin doon,” he said
[“Just in case you didn’t find your name in the list, but you’re a legitimate driver, the only thing you have to do is to go to your respective Local Government Unit (LGU) and file an appeal.”]
He further clarified that the current list of beneficiaries is not yet final and the submissions remain open.
“Hindi pa ho final yung listahan. Ongoing pa rin ang mga submissions,” he added
League of Cities of the Philippines President and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora mentioned that it is important for the LGUs to make sure that the lists are clean to prevent the exploitation of the unqualified recipients.
“It’s not the question of ‘nandyan ba yung pondo?’, it’s the question of generating an honest-to-goodness clean list dahil ayaw po nating mapasukan ng mga pangalan na hindi naman qualified,” he said
[“It’s not the question of 'is there any fund?', it’s the question of generating an honest-to-goodness clean list because we don’t want to include the names that are actually not qualified.”]
DSWD Sec. Gatchalian clarified that drivers and driver-operators are only eligible for cash assistance.
With reports from Benedict Samson
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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun the distribution of ₱5,000 cash relief assistance to the NCR-based tricycle drivers today, March 17, 2026. This program is implemented under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).
Department of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez clarified on March 16, 2026, that the assistance from AICS is different from the ₱2.5-B fuel subsidy for operators and drivers.
“Linawin ko lang po, dalawang programa po ito. Sa AICS po, limang libo po iyan. Alalahanin natin na mayroon ding ₱2.5-B fuel subsidy under DOTr,” he said
[“I’d like to clarify that these are two separate programs. Under AICS, that’s five thousand. Let us also remember that there is also a ₱2.5 billion fuel subsidy under DOTr.”]
During the rollout of cash assistance under DSWD, DOTr Sec. Lopez announced that the fuel subsidy distribution will begin in the last week of March.
“We can start the rolling out ng ating fuel subsidy by last week of March,” he said
[“We can start rolling out our fuel subsidy by last week of March.”]
The following sectors are to benefit from the fuel subsidy under DOTr:
This program aims to provide assistance to the affected operators and drivers amid rising oil prices in the global market.
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The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has confirmed that the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan remains present and continues to bring cooler temperatures to various areas across the country.
On March 2, PAGASA issued a heat index forecast due to the warm temperatures observed.
However, DOST-PAGASA Assistant Weather Services Chief Jorybell Masallo clarified that a cold surge or a sudden drop in temperature is currently being experienced. Another factor is the cool air originating from the South China Sea, which is also reaching the Philippines
According to Masallo, the Amihan season typically arrives from November and ends in mid-March. The termination of the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan is approaching, signaling the onset of the warm and dry season.
Soon, PAGASA will announce the official declaration of the dry season.
During this season, heat-related illness commonly occurs, which is why the public is advised to consider the following safety measures according to PAGASA:
Watch here to know more:
The Department of Agriculture plans to impose a ₱50 price cap for imported rice per kilo.
The plan is linked to the surge in oil prices, which affects the shipping costs.
“We are studying the imposition of a price cap on imported rice, possibly P50 per kilo,” according to DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr.
The agriculture department explains that due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and Iran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, the fuel prices in the global market are continuously going upward.
The hike in fuel costs is gradually affecting the agricultural sector, particularly the increasing cost of fertilizer, freight, and fuel.
When it comes to locally-produced rice, the agency is not considering implementing the same price cap as it may cause a potential collapse in prices during the harvest. DA Sec. Tiu Laurel Jr. has confirmed that the same price cap can be implemented during post-harvest to prevent profiteering.
With reports from Mia Alonzo
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A transport group, Piston plans to file a new petition this March, calling for a ₱5 fare increase amid a continuous rise in fuel products driven by the conflict in the Middle East. This move addresses the income loss of the drivers.
Drivers could lose over ₱3,000 in their income if the diesel climbs to ₱120 per liter, based on the transport group.
According to Piston National President Mody Floranda, the group will conduct a nationwide transport strike this coming Thursday, March 19, 2026.
“Sa March 19, iguguhit natin sa kasaysayan, sa buong bansa ang pagkilos ng mga driver at ng mga operator, ng mamayan,” he said
[“On March 19, we will mark in a history, in the entire country, the action of the drivers, operators, and the public.”]
Nearly 100,000 drivers and operators from the group are expected to join the strike.
“Halos nasa 100k tayo sa buong bansa at alam natin na kahit yung mga nag-modern, kahit po yung mga nagk-kooperatiba, yung mga nagc-corporation, alam natin na sila’y lalahok sa darating na transport strike sapagkat sa laki ng nawawala na ring kita dahil sa epekto ng pagtaas ng presyo ng petrolyo,” he said
[We are nearly 100,000 nationwide and we know that even the modern [jeepneys], the cooperatives, the corporation, we know that they’ll join this coming transport strike linked to huge income loss due to the escalating price of petroleum products.”]
According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), they understand the concerns of the sector, and clarified that the petition will undergo the standard process once the PISTON formally files the petition.
With reports from JP Nuñez
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