A total of 1,500 tricycle drivers and operators from the town of Solano received financial assistance from the provincial government last August 1 and 2, 2024 at the Carlos M. Padilla Convention Center in Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.
Nueva Vizcaya Governor Jose Gambito led the aid distribution under the AKAP (Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Each beneficiary received P5,000, amounting to a total disbursement of P7.5-million.
Gambito secured the P15-million total funding for the initiative through TINGOG party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, the wife of House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The fund was earmarked for the benefit of workers in the informal sector, including tricycle drivers and operators.
“This initiative is a testament to our strong commitment to support those in the informal sector, who are often the most vulnerable during economic hardships,” said Gambito. “We will continue to explore and implement programs that provide tangible assistance to our hardworking constituents.”
On July 31, 500 tricycle drivers from Dupax del Norte also received P5,000 each as part of the same financial aid program. Scheduled payouts are also set for tricycle drivers and operators in the towns of Diadi, Quezon, Kayapa, and Bayombong.
Motorcycle drivers in Ambaguio, where it is the primary means of public transport due to the mountainous terrain unsuitable for tricycles, will also be included in the assistance program. In total, 3,000 tricycle drivers from various towns in Nueva Vizcaya will receive P5,000 each.
The AKAP Program is an initiative by the DSWD designed to provide financial assistance to individuals and families in the informal sector who are struggling to make ends meet. The program aims to alleviate economic hardships caused by factors such as inflation, among other issues.
