BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – A total of 1,912 public jeepney drivers operating 45 routes in the city received the first P5,000 fuel subsidy in a distribution held at the Baguio Convention Center, on March 25.
The funds are from the city government to help with the severe impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East that has resulted in the rapid increase in oil prices worldwide.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that in exchange for the financial assistance, he requested that jeepney drivers adjust their trip schedules every night so that they can safely transport passengers from the various jeepney terminals to their homes in the barangays.
It was learned that many passengers are complaining because even before their scheduled time, there are no jeepneys available for boarding, resulting in long lines of people at most terminals every night.
According to Magalong, they observed long lines of passengers that began after a series of excessive oil price increases over the past three weeks. “ Now that we have addressed the small aid, it should be addressed through the commitment of the various jeepney associations to strategize their scheduled trips at night to ensure the availability of public transportation for residents returning home to the various barangays.
According to City Social Welfare and Development Officer Liza Bulayungan, the more than P9.8 million needed for the first batch of aid to jeepney drivers came from the available Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) funds of the local government which will be distributed to all qualified beneficiaries until Saturday, March 28.
She emphasized that recipients are only required to present a few documents to utilize the said aid, namely their driver’s license, certificate of residency from the barangay in the city where they live, and certification from the jeepney association where they operate aside from undergoing an interview from assigned social workers.
Magalong also directed the concerned local government offices to continue to look for ways in which the city can provide appropriate assistance to the sectors that have been severely affected since there is no specific timeframe for when the ongoing war in the Middle East will end to pave the way for recovery and rehabilitation.
He added that even if the war stops, it will still take about three to six months for the global economy to recover. “Therefore, any opportunities that can be used to reduce the effects of the crisis on people’s lives should be examined and utilized if possible.”
