By CESAR JOLITO III

Rice assistance has been rolled out to Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) drivers in Bacolod City as part of relief efforts in response to rising fuel costs.

Since Sunday, April 12, around 2,200 TNVS drivers have each received five kilos of rice from the city government to help cushion the impact of the ongoing oil price crisis.

The initiative is part of a broader support program targeting transport workers affected by increasing fuel expenses.

City officials said the validation process for beneficiaries eligible for fuel subsidies is still ongoing.

An orientation and document verification activity was also conducted at the Bacolod City Government Center to facilitate the efficient rollout of national government assistance.

Authorities are closely coordinating with TNVS companies to ensure the accuracy of beneficiary lists.

Drivers are required to present a valid driver’s license and identification card reflecting a Bacolod address to streamline the verification process.

The city government earlier extended financial aid to the public transport sector, with more than 8,000 tricycle drivers receiving P5,000 each in fuel subsidies from April 8 to 10.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Negros Island Region reported releasing a total of P169.85 million in cash assistance to 33,970 tricycle drivers across 19 cities in the region over a three-day payout period, achieving a 97.13 percent distribution rate.

The agency is now preparing for the second phase of the payout, which will cover tricycle drivers in municipalities across the Negros Island Region./CJ, WDJ