The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has started implementing its “TUPAD Tuloy Pasada” program to help jeepney drivers cope with the rising cost of fuel. The initiative provides additional income for affected transport workers in Metro Manila.
An initial batch of 134 jeepney drivers assigned to selected routes will each receive P695 per day, based on the minimum wage rate in the National Capital Region. This assistance is given in addition to their usual earnings from daily trips. DOLE said the program is intended to ease the financial strain brought by continuous increases in pump prices affecting public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.
Screening done through DOLE and LTFRB coordination
The agency explained that beneficiaries were chosen through a validation process, with the initial list provided by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Drivers who were not part of the first batch may still seek inclusion by going to the nearest DOLE office. They are required to submit a valid professional driver’s license as part of the application process.
Qualified participants may receive support for up to 30 days under the program.
Wider rollout planned, but drivers seek lasting fixes
DOLE is targeting around 50,000 jeepney drivers nationwide as the program expands beyond Metro Manila in the coming months. The assistance will also be extended later on to other sectors affected by fuel costs, including truck drivers hauling agricultural goods.
While many drivers welcomed the short-term relief, they emphasized the need for longer-term measures to address persistent fuel price increases that continue to affect their livelihoods.
