NINETY-SIX percent of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and other transport workers who received P5,000 in fuel assistance said the aid helped them stay on or return to their routes, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
In a statement on Tuesday, Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto cited the survey, which was commissioned by the Australian government’s Social Protection, Inclusion and Gender Equality Program, saying the government would use the findings to improve assistance delivery and to find ways to give workers more sustained support.
The survey, conducted on May 26-27, covered 1,200 registered beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) cash relief.
It found that 84% were satisfied with the personnel who handled the disbursement, and that eight in 10 used part of the grant to buy food.
More than a third of respondents were not enrolled in any government program, including the Social Security System and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., the survey said as cited by Mr. Recto.
“This points to an opportunity to use the DSWD’s existing beneficiary database as a gateway to connect more vulnerable workers with other government services and social protection programs,” Mr. Recto said.
He said the survey provides concrete feedback on whether government assistance is reaching its intended beneficiaries.
The government has expanded the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, a program set up to help Filipinos cope with rising fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict, to target 7.5 million vulnerable families.
As of Oct. 7, the first tranche had reached 6.49 million Filipinos, with P19.55 billion distributed. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking