4,000 Metro Manila TNVS drivers to get cash aid

MANILA, Philippines — Some 4,000 Metro Manila drivers of ride-hailing companies like Grab have been identified by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as among the first batch of beneficiaries of financial aid from the government.

The LTFRB said it would release a list of the names of qualified transport network vehicle services (TNVS) drivers who could collect the cash assistance starting today, April 8.

The aid is part of the state’s P200-billion amelioration program for public utility vehicle drivers whose main source of income was disrupted by the ban on all forms of public transportation for the duration of the Luzon-wide lockdown.

According to LTFRB chair Martin Delgra, they have initially identified 435,619 drivers of jeepneys, UV Express, TNVS and other forms of public transport as potential beneficiaries for the program. Of the total, 200,000 names have been submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development for verification.

Also forwarded were the names of 55,111 motorcycle taxi drivers from Angkas, JoyRide, and MoveIt.

Under the protection program, they will each receive emergency support ranging between P5,000 (for those outside Metro Manila) and P8,000 (for those in the metropolis) for two months.

Beneficiaries whose names appear on the LTFRB master list should present their driver’s license and a photocopy of that license with two signatures at the nearest Land Bank of the Philippines branch from 1 to 3 p.m. starting today.