Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday urged transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers not included in the cash relief assistance (CRA) beneficiary list to verify their status with their respective transport network companies (TNCs).
Gatchalian clarified that the list of beneficiaries released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board was based on submissions from TNCs such as Grab.
“Ang listahan ay nanggaling sa mga TNC… Sila yung gumawa ng listahan, ibinigay sa LTFRB para i-check kung valid yung mga rehistro, and then ipinasa lang sa amin. Sa madaling salita, ang DSWD lang yung magpapa-payout,” Gatchalian said, stressing that his agency is only responsible for distributing the assistance.
(The list came from the TNCs… They were the ones who made the list, gave it to the LTFRB to check if the registrations were valid, and then it was simply forwarded to us. In other words, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is only responsible for releasing the payout.)
He appealed to drivers not to confront DSWD personnel if their names are not on the list, emphasizing that the inclusion process is handled by the companies themselves.
“Kung wala kayo doon sa listahan, kaysa magpunta kayo sa mga payout center, puntahan ninyo yung mga TNC ninyo… tanungin ninyo kung bakit wala kayo doon sa listahan,” he said.
(If you’re not on the list, instead of going to the payout centers, go to your TNCs… ask them why you’re not included in the list.)
The DSWD chief also advised drivers with “temporary” status to coordinate with their TNCs, noting that only those with valid licenses to operate were included in the list submitted for verification.
“Apparently, may mga kumpanya katulad ng Grab… na may tawag silang ‘temporary drivers’… wala silang slot pa… talagang hindi kayo nilagay ng Grab sa listahan,” he said, adding that such cases should be addressed directly by the companies concerned.
(“Apparently, there are companies like Grab… that have what they call ‘temporary drivers’… they don’t have slots yet… Grab really didn’t include you in the list.)
Gatchalian reiterated that the DSWD did not alter or remove any names from the list provided by the LTFRB.
He also dismissed concerns about insufficient funds for transport workers, assuring that the budget for the program remains intact.
Payout operations for beneficiaries outside Metro Manila will begin after the Holy Week break.
The department has set a schedule for the week, allocating payouts for jeepney drivers on Wednesday, delivery riders on Thursday and Friday, and motorcycle taxi operators on Saturday.
