“Mang Lando” (not his real name) couldn’t hold back his emotions as he waited in line to receive financial assistance from the city government of Biñan, Laguna last April 1.
“Hindi man po ito sobrang laki, pero napakalaking halaga nito para sa aming mga tricycle driver,” he said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
“Kasi halos ang kinikinita po namin ngayon ay napupunta na lamang po sa gasolina, kaya mas okay na po ito kahit papaano.”
“Mang Lando” is just one of the over 5,000 members of tricycle operators and drivers associations (TODAs) who received fuel subsidies worth P1,000 each from the city government of Biñan, in a payout activity held at the Biñan Football Stadium on April 1.
The local fuel subsidies – which are separate from the subsidies currently being distributed by the national government – is just one way of assisting transport drivers who now feel the brunt of the massive hike in oil prices in past weeks, according to the city government.
“Alam natin kung paano tayo naapektuhan, hindi lamang po sa Pilipinas. Pero kami po sa pamahalaang lungsod ay gumawa po ng paraan kahit papaano,” Mayor Gel Alonte assured tricycle drivers during the payouts.
Executive order
The payout was accomplished after Mayor Alonte issued Executive Order No. 15 Series of 2026 last March 30, which provided for the creation of the Biñan Fuel Subsidy Assistance Program, as well as a resolution passed by the Sangguniang Panglungsod.
“Tricycle drivers and operators play a vital role in ensuring accessible and reliable
transportation within the barangays and communities of the City of Biñan…the City Government of Biñan deems it necessary to implement a localized fuel subsidy program to provide immediate relief to members and officers of Tricycle Operators and
Drivers Associations (TODA) who are adversely affected by current economic conditions,” Alonte explained in his executive order.
Under the order, the city government of Biñan will establish a Fuel Subsidy Assistance Program.
This will provide qualified beneficiaries with fuel assistance in the form of fuel vouchers, cash assistance, or digital subsidy mechanisms such as fuel cards and e-wallet transfers.
“Apektado po tayong lahat sa ekonomiya at meron po dumating na tulong from national government. Pero hindi po sasapat yung amount na ibinigay ng national. Kaya po naisipan po ng ating Mayor Gel, ng Sangguniang Panlungsod na magdagdag po po ng mga assistance na pwede natin ibigay sa ating mga kababayan,” was how Vice Mayor Dada Reyes explained their move.
More than fuel subsidies
On the other hand, Alonte also stressed that the assistance being given to tricycle drivers in Biñan City is not just through financial assistance.
To recall, the city government has implemented strict regulations and monitoring of gasoline stations in the city to prevent incidents of hoarding, exorbitant price increases, and panic-buying.
“Katulong po ang ating POSO [Public Order and Safety Office], ay talagang binabatayan po natin ng mga gasoline station kasi meron tayong pinagbawalan na mga iba na nagho-hoard per drum. Nakiisa tayo sa mga may-ari na huwag magbenta ng per drum dahil nauubusan,” the city executive said.
Vice Mayor Reyes also bared other measures being crafted by the local government to minimize the impacts of the current economic crisis, such as urging utility companies to delay cutting off power or water supplies to delinquent customers.
“ Sa Biñan po ng ating punong-lungsod Mayor Gel, mayroon na mga kabayan na hindi agad makakabayad ng Meralco bills, Laguna Water na bill ay pinapakiusapan po natin yung dalawang iyon na wag po sana putulan agad-agad,” Reyes shared.
‘Thank the taxpayers’
While the beneficiaries of the fuel subsidies were all praise to the local government of Biñan for extending assistance to them in this time of crisis, Alonte was quick to remind them who they should be thankful for.
As he had emphasized countless times, the city mayor touted the role of taxpayers in enabling the Biñan LGU to raise its services and provide vulnerable sectors with much-needed programs to ensure their welfare.
“Pondo po ito ng pamahalaang lungsod mula sa buwis ng ating mga kababayan, ibabalik po namin sa inyo para pangtulong ngayong mga panahong ito,” Alonte stressed during the payout.
“Alam natin pero minsan meron din talagang nagba-boundary lang. Pero ang pinasa po natin dito, ang mabibigyan po talaga ay ang namamasada. Ito pong tulong na ibibigay po namin ay galing sa local government at syempre sa ating mga tax payer pare-pareho karamihan naman po dito na nagshare tayo ng tax.”
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