THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Friday directed all city and municipal mayors nationwide to submit a validated list of qualified tricycle drivers to the DILG regional offices on or before April 26, 2022, in preparation for another round of fuel subsidy under the “Pantawid Pasada Program” spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that city and municipal local chief executives (LCEs) are expected to come up with the list to expedite the process of aiding tricycle drivers “whose meager income is further cut by the recent oil price hikes.”

He added that the said list, once validated, shall be the basis of the DOTr-LTFRB in granting the fuel subsidy.

“I urge all City and Municipal LCEs to produce a validated list of qualified tricycle drivers who will receive the Pantawid Pasada Program fuel subsidy. Kailangan po ito ng ating mga kababayang tricycle drivers who have been burdened by the recent unprecedented oil price hikes,” Año said.

“Sana po ay paspasan po natin ang pag-aasikaso ng listahang ito para kahit papaano ay maibsan ang pasanin ng ating mga drayber,” he added.

Under the Fuel Subsidy Program or Pantawid Pasada Program, which will be funded through the General Appropriations Act of 2022, fuel assistance amounting to P6,500 will be directly provided not only to affected jeepney drivers but also to qualified drivers of UV (utility van) express, mini buses, buses, shuttle services, taxis, tricycles, and other full-time ride-hailing (e.g., transport network vehicle service or TNVS and motorcycle taxis) and delivery services nationwide.

Through DILG Memorandum Circular 2022-047, Año said local government units (LGUs) must produce a validated list of tricycle drivers, tricycle franchisees, addresses, electronic wallet accounts, and the number of operating tricycles and other details within their respective jurisdictions.

The said details, he said, must be prepared and certified correct by the head of the Tricycle Franchising Board and the head of the local Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA).

“Ito din ay kailangang certified ng City or Municipal Mayors at Vice Mayors. This is to ensure that the list we will forward to the DOTr-LTFRB is correct and legitimate,” Año said.

LGUs must likewise transmit the validated list of beneficiaries to the DILG Regional Office which will serve as a reference document in the distribution of the fuel subsidy to the tricycle drivers; ensure that the fuel subsidy will be utilized for fuel purchases and payments only; and, coordinate with the concerned beneficiary in case of inconsistencies and insufficiencies in details or information.

The DILG Chief likewise urged city and municipal mayors to set up a Pantawid Pasada Assistance and Complaint Desk or Hotline to address concerns and complaints from the beneficiaries on the list and availability of the said fuel subsidy.

“In as much as we want to assist everyone, we must abide by the set parameters kaya hinihiling namin ang pangunguna ng mga LGU at kooperasyon ng ating mga tricycle driver upang mabilis na maibaba ang fuel subsidy na ito sa kanila,” Año said.

He said the distribution of the fuel subsidy shall be the responsibility of the DOTr-LTFRB and shall be disseminated through the e-wallet account submitted by the beneficiaries.