Transport Workers Find P5,000 Aid Insufficient: PIDS Study

NEARLY two-thirds of transport workers who received the government’s P5,000 cash assistance said the amount was insufficient to cover operating expenses, according to a Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) policy note. The survey of 1,200 beneficiaries found that only 35.7% considered the grant adequate, while 63.6% said it fell short. The assistance, distributed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development during the national energy emergency, targets about 2.2 million transport workers nationwide. Despite concerns over the amount, 96.3% of respondents said the grant helped them continue or return to work. Seven in 10 said at least P8,000 would be adequate, with P10,000 emerging as the most frequently cited amount. PIDS also identified gaps in transport worker databases after more eligible beneficiaries were identified through transport network companies. It recommended reviewing benefit levels, improving payment systems and strengthening beneficiary registries. — Justine Irish D. Tabile