MARCH 31, 2026 — Thousands of TNVS drivers in Metro Manila were excluded from the government’s P5,000 cash aid program because transport network companies (TNCs) deliberately withheld their names, according to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian. The LTFRB is now investigating operators who allegedly concealed drivers to avoid penalties for exceeding quotas.

Now this is not just a bureaucratic hiccup. It’s a story of thousands of Filipino drivers — 29,000 by Gatchalian’s count — who lined up, waited, and hoped for relief, only to be told they weren’t on the list. Why? Because their own operators allegedly hid them.

Gatchalian explained, “Ang sinubmit lang nilang TNVS drivers is 22,000. Pero ang nakakubli ay 29,000 … Itinago nila yung mga tempo drivers nila.” 

(They only submitted 22,000 TNVS drivers. But hidden were 29,000. They deliberately concealed their temporary drivers.)

That’s not just concealment. It’s utter betrayal. These platforms, built on the backs of these drivers, allegedly chose to protect their quotas over their people.

Aid, quotas, and accountability

• Aid distribution: As of this week, 256,040 drivers in Metro Manila have received P5,000 each, totaling P1.28 billion in disbursed funds.
• Excluded drivers: Thousands of TNVS and motorcycle taxi drivers were left out due to incomplete lists submitted by TNCs.
• LTFRB probe: Board Member Greg Pua confirmed investigations are underway, with possible penalties including suspension, cancellation, or fines for erring operators.
• Special payouts: DSWD promised additional payout sessions after Holy Week, targeting tricycle and jeepney drivers who were missed despite being on official lists.

The human cost

Let’s not forget the human side. These are not faceless statistics. They are fathers, mothers, breadwinners — people who drive long hours in Metro Manila traffic, often with rising fuel costs eating into their earnings.

One driver recounted how they went through the trouble of showing up and waiting in line, only to discover their name wasn’t on the list. The experience left them feeling invisible, as if their work and sacrifices carried no weight in the eyes of the system. 

This controversy cuts deep into issues of trust, transparency, and accountability. If operators can hide drivers to dodge quotas, what else can they hide? And if government agencies rely solely on lists provided by these companies, how can we trust that aid reaches those who need it most?

The DSWD insists “no driver will be left behind.” But the reality is, many already were. The promise of special payouts is welcome, but it doesn’t erase the fact that thousands were denied help when they needed it most.

(Image: Philippine News Agency)