A day after Moto Sapiens reported the grumblings of Angkas riders accusing the government of turning a deaf ear to their plight in these difficult times, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) came into the picture to inform them that their cash assistance is ready.
George Royeca, chief transport advocate of the motorcycle-taxi company, confirmed that the DSWD has started distributing financial aid amounting to P8,000 to each rider under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP).
“Maraming salamat sa DSWD, DOTr (Department of Transportation) at LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) for releasing the social amelioration assistance to the 1st batch of Angkas bikers,” Royeca posted on social media. “We will get through this crisis together as one family just like all the other challenges we've overcome.”
The DOTr and the LTFRB are acting as facilitators in the release of the SAP payout to some 30,000 Angkas riders based in Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Cagayan de Oro City. As of this writing, only about 15,000 riders have received the payout through GCash. Others are reportedly experiencing problems with the requirements they’ve forwarded to the DSWD, like misspelled names and incomplete addresses. Others remain at a loss as to how to complete the online application.
“So far, less than 50% have submitted the correct SAC forms. Just a reminder that they still need to be passed,” according to an advisory from Angkas Barkada MNL Facebook page.
Better late than never. The financial assistance for these beleaguered motorcycle-taxi riders was released on the 59th day of the quarantine period. Although motorcycle taxis have yet to be legalized by Congress, this move by the DSWD shows that the sector is not being discriminated against or ignored during this critical period. Do you believe so, too?
