A total of 1,193 Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers in Bacolod City received much-needed relief from the city government in the form of rice assistance distributed today, April 5. For many drivers, the rice subsidy comes at a time when their income has been stretched thin due to fuel price increases linked to tensions in the Middle East.

This initiative reflects Mayor Greg Gasataya’s administration’s commitment to serving its people in times of need. The distribution effort was led by the city government through the Public Employment Service Office (PESO), which moved swiftly to ensure that assistance reached beneficiaries without delay.

To make the process more accessible, the city deployed pick-up trucks to various PUJ terminals across Bacolod, allowing drivers to receive the rice directly at their respective routes.

For drivers like Rene Mark Garcia of Estefania, this assistance is vital as driving is his only source of income. “There are days when what we earn barely covers fuel expenses. Sometimes, there’s nothing left to bring home.

That’s why this help means so much– not just for me, but for many drivers who are struggling.” Garcia and his fellow drivers received five kilograms of rice– an amount that, while simple, carries significant meaning for families who depend daily on earnings from the road. (Bacolod City Communications Office)