Legazpi trike drivers receive cash aid

By Cet Dematera

Some 1,393 of the total of 2,500 tricycle drivers in Legazpi City or 55.52 percent had received P1,500 each as financial assistance of the city government as part of the support to this vulnerable sector directly affected by the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.

Councilor Al Barizo, chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Public Utility of the Sanggunian Panglungsod, in an interview during the second batch of payout at the fish port in Barangay Dap-dap on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said the 760 driver recipients came from the Parada 4,5,6 and 7, while the 633 drivers who received assistance during the first batch of the distribution last Sept. 17 were plying route for Parada 1,2 and 3.

“The remaining 1,107 drivers will be receiving their financial assistance on the last batch of distribution to be held on Friday (Sept. 24),” Barizo said.

The payout materialized after the city council has adopted a Resolution allocating P2.5 million cash assistance to the tricycle drivers in order to lessen the burden being brought to their livelihood by the existing pandemic.

He said that the financial assistance is part of the support to the tricycle drivers who are encountering financial difficulties due to the limited number of passengers per trip as mandated in health protocols to control the spread of virus.

Barizo said that he also passed a resolution that grants amnesty to the tricycle drivers and operators with expired franchises from one to three years.

“Under the Resolution, the owners of the expired tricycle franchise will be exempted from any penalties when they renew their units”, Barizo explained.