By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City government is now coordinating closely with the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) to correct discrepancies on the list of beneficiaries for the cash relief assistance intended for Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and delivery service drivers.

Mayor Greg Gasataya clarified that concerns raised over the exclusion of drivers affiliated with a TNVS firm had already been identified even before complaints surfaced publicly, prompting immediate coordination with DSWD for verification of the official masterlist.

Gasataya said discussions with DSWD began as early as the previous evening after authorities discovered that the beneficiary database for Bacolod and the Negros Island Region had been inadvertently merged with the list for Western Visayas.

The mix-up reportedly affected the validation process and led to the omission of several qualified TNVS and delivery drivers from the initial payout roster.

To address the issue, DSWD-NIR is currently extracting and sorting the correct data specifically for Bacolod City to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries are properly included in the assistance program.

Gasataya emphasized the importance of financial aid for drivers and their families, noting that many rely heavily on daily earnings for their livelihood.

The local government also appealed for patience and understanding from affected drivers while DSWD-NIR completes the necessary corrections to its database.

Authorities assured the public that an updated payout schedule and revised guidelines will be released immediately once the finalized beneficiary list is transmitted to the city government./CJ, WDJ