A total of 27,933 tricycle and public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers, farmers and fisherfolk in Albay will receive financial assistance from the provincial government to support their livelihoods and daily income, according to the Albay Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) on Thursday.

In an interview, PSWDO chief Maria Vivien Cea said beneficiaries in this month’s ongoing payouts are from the province’s three districts, including 13,488 tricycle drivers, 1,555 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers, 3,300 fisherfolk and 9,590 farmers.

“The assistance is being distributed through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. Farmers and fisherfolk will receive PHP2,000 each, while PUJ drivers will get PHP1,500 and tricycle drivers PHP1,100,” she said.

Cea noted that the program is funded by the provincial government and forms part of the PHP50 million assistance earlier announced by Gov. Noel Rosal.

Distribution is being conducted per local government unit (LGU), with the PSWDO leading the payouts in coordination with the Provincial Treasurer’s Office.

“The beneficiaries were identified through the Local Social Welfare and Development Offices of each LGU. The farmers and fisherfolk were identified using the lists submitted by the Albay Provincial Agricultural Office. For the transportation sector, we sought assistance from the LGUs, particularly the mayors’ offices,” she said.

She added that the distribution for the first district is expected to be completed within the week. The second district will follow, starting in Manito and Camalig next week, while the third district will be covered afterward.

“The entire distribution is targeted for completion within August,” she said.

The financial assistance is a one-time payout intended to help beneficiaries meet their immediate food and other basic needs.

Beneficiary Jesus Nolasco, a tricycle driver who has four children, three of whom are studying, said he plans to use the PHP1,100 assistance to buy food for his family.

“We are very thankful for the assistance given to us tricycle drivers. We are experiencing difficulties with our income, so we are very grateful to have received this assistance for our daily needs at home,” Nolasco said in the vernacular.

Another tricycle driver, Freddie Alcantara, 61, of Puro Legazpi, said the assistance would help lessen his fuel expenses and allow him to allocate more of his income for food and household bills.

“At least when we buy gasoline, we can use the amount we would have spent from our own pocket for food and other household expenses, including water and electricity. It is a big help to us,” Alcantara said.

Meanwhile, Gerardo Pariñas of Buraguis said the assistance would help his family, particularly in meeting their food needs.

“This is a big help to us tricycle drivers. When our income from driving a tricycle is not enough, we can add the assistance to our food budget,” he said. (PNA)