Borongan’s Fuel Subsidy: A Lifeline for Some, a Slap in the Face for Many Left Behind

Posted on Apr. 10, 2026 at 3:12 pm

The announcement of a P5,000 cash relief assistance program for tricycle drivers in Borongan City, set for payout on April 8, 2026, at the Multi-Purpose Gym in Brgy. Campesao, comes as welcome news for those on the beneficiary list. But for the countless drivers excluded from the DSWD Region 8 roster, this well-intentioned initiative has quickly become a source of frustration and deepening inequality amid the ongoing fuel crisis.

On paper, the program is a much-needed intervention: with gasoline prices continuing to soar, the cash subsidy will provide registered tricycle drivers with much-needed support to keep their vehicles running and put food on their tables. The involvement of DSWD adds credibility to the effort, framing it as part of a national response to ease the burden on public transport workers outside the National Capital Region. For those who qualify, this P5,000 will make a tangible difference in their daily lives.

But here lies the critical flaw: the program restricts benefits solely to “registered tricycle drivers/franchise holders” – a requirement that leaves out a significant portion of Borongan’s tricycle workforce. Many drivers operate as “boundary” workers or part-time operators who do not hold formal franchises, yet they face the exact same fuel price hikes and financial pressures as their registered counterparts. Some have been plying Borongan’s streets for years, serving as lifelines for commuters in hard-to-reach areas, only to be told they are not eligible for assistance because their names are not on a list they never knew existed.

This raises pressing questions about how the beneficiary list was compiled and who was consulted in the process. Did local authorities work with Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODAs) to ensure all active drivers were accounted for? Were there clear guidelines for registration, and were these communicated effectively to all drivers in the city? Or was the list drawn up based on outdated records that fail to reflect the reality of how Borongan’s tricycle transport sector actually operates?

It is also worth examining why the program is limited to registered drivers when the fuel crisis affects all those who depend on gasoline to earn a living. The exclusion of unregistered but active drivers sends a troubling message: that only those who have navigated the often complex and costly process of securing a franchise deserve support. For many drivers who cannot afford franchise fees or who work informally to make ends meet, this is not just unfair – it compounds the very hardships the program aims to address.

Local leaders in Borongan must answer for this oversight. While the city government may argue that it is bound by DSWD’s guidelines, there is still a responsibility to advocate for all their constituents. Where were the efforts to expand the list or provide alternative assistance for those left out? Why was there no public consultation to identify gaps in the beneficiary pool before the payout date was announced?

The fuel crisis does not discriminate between registered and unregistered drivers – it affects every tricycle operator who struggles to fill their tank each day. A relief program that creates a two-tier system of support only deepens divisions within a community already grappling with economic hardship. For the drivers left off the list, the sight of their colleagues receiving aid while they continue to struggle will only erode trust in both local and national government initiatives.

Moving forward, there must be urgent action to address this exclusion. This could include working with DSWD to expand eligibility, establishing a supplementary city-funded program for unregistered drivers, or creating a more inclusive registration process that ensures no worker is left behind in future assistance efforts. The goal of any relief program should be to ease suffering, not to create new inequalities.

The P5,000 fuel subsidy is a step in the right direction, but it is a step that leaves too many of Borongan’s tricycle drivers standing at the curb, watching their colleagues move forward while they are left to face the crisis alone. Local authorities must do better to ensure that help reaches all those who need it.