Philippines fuel aid survey shows 96% of PUV drivers kept or resumed routes

Traders Union
All News
Financial News
Philippines fuel aid PUV survey

Highlights

96% of surveyed PUV drivers reported that the P5,000 fuel assistance enabled them to maintain or resume transport routes, according to Social Weather Stations.
34% of respondents were not enrolled in any government program, highlighting a gap that the Department of Social Welfare and Development aims to address using its beneficiary database.
The Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport reached 6.49 million Filipinos with P19.55 billion as of Oct. 7, targeting 7.5 million vulnerable families.

Survey findings and government response

As reported by BusinessWorld, citing Social Weather Stations, 96% of public utility vehicle drivers and other transport workers who received P5,000 in fuel assistance said the aid helped them stay on or return to their routes.

In a statement on Tuesday, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto cited the survey, which was commissioned by the Australian government’s Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender Equality Program, and said the government would use the findings to improve assistance delivery and identify ways to provide workers with more sustained support.

The survey, conducted on May 26-27, covered 1,200 registered beneficiaries of Department of Social Welfare and Development cash relief. It found that 84% were satisfied with the personnel who handled the disbursement, while eight in 10 said they used part of the grant to buy food.

Gaps in social protection coverage

More than a third of respondents were not enrolled in any government program, including the Social Security System and Philippine Health Insurance Corp., according to the survey cited by Mr. Recto.

He said this points to an opportunity to use the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s existing beneficiary database as a gateway to connect more vulnerable workers with other government services and social protection programs. He also said the survey provides concrete feedback on whether government assistance is reaching its intended beneficiaries.

The government has expanded the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, a program set up to help Filipinos cope with rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict, to target 7.5 million vulnerable families. As of Oct. 7, the first tranche had reached 6.49 million Filipinos, with P19.55 billion distributed.

Our earlier article examined how coal-affected communities in Batangas, Bataan, and Quezon are pressing the International Finance Corp. and the World Bank Group for long-delayed remedies tied to the environmental and social harm from coal projects. It highlighted claims that affected areas face health risks, displacement, and livelihood losses, while campaigners also questioned financial returns linked to the coal expansion and urged a coordinated, transparent approach to delivering redress.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.