Local gov’ts told to submit list of qualified trike drivers

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has directed all city and municipal mayors nationwide to submit their lists of qualified tricycle drivers to the DILG regional offices on or before April 26, in preparation for another round of fuel subsidy.

In a statement on Friday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said city and municipal local chief executives (LCEs) were expected to come up with the list to expedite the process of aiding tricycle drivers.

The list will be the basis of the granting of the fuel subsidy under the Pantawid Pasada Program spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Tricycle operators and drivers associations are regulated by local governments.

“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. These will be needed by our tricycle drivers who have been burdened by the recent unprecedented oil price hikes,” Año said.

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 express, mini buses, buses, shuttle services, taxis, tricycles and other full-time ride-hailing (such as transport network vehicle service and motorcycle taxis), and delivery services nationwide.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-047 released on Tuesday, local governments must produce a validated list of tricycle drivers; tricycle franchisees; addresses; electronic wallet accounts; and number of operating tricycles and other details within their respective jurisdictions.

The lists 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.

“They shall also be certified by the mayors and vice mayors. This is to ensure that the lists we will forward to the DOTr-LTFRB is correct and legitimate,” Año said.

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