The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has started rolling out the fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers here to cushion the effect of surging oil prices.

Habib Pagilongon, a CSWDO senior social work associate, said they managed to initially provide PHP3,000 each in subsidy to 873 PUV drivers as of Tuesday.

“There will be upcoming tranches of distribution. To avail of this program, the drivers only need to go to the nearest CSWDO from them,” Pagilongon said in an interview.

He said the first batch of recipients were screened and approved as qualified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS).

The driver-recipients of the program who lined up at the People’s Park to get the subsidy brought with them both original and photocopies of barangay certificates and valid identification documents.

Last year, over 4,000 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in Davao Region each received PHP7,200 worth of fuel subsidy from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The fuel subsidy program is a one-time subsidy to provide financial assistance to PUJ franchisees and operators due to the recent hike in oil prices amid the pandemic.

The program covers PUJs, Filcabs, and even modern jeepneys that require fuel. (PNA)