Fuel aid to habal-habal drivers set for release

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival and Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover, who have at times been at odds, set aside their differences to work together on the long-delayed fuel subsidy program for habal-habal drivers.

The two officials agreed to push for the release of the assistance before October ends, with the beneficiary list now trimmed from 35,000 to 13,000.

Archival calls the meeting a “meeting of the minds” that crossed political party lines to prioritize the welfare of drivers.

 He said the city government is finalizing the venue, schedule, and list of qualified beneficiaries, and urged drivers to wait for official announcements to avoid confusion.

In an interview with THE FREEMAN, Alcover said he had asked the accounting office to expedite the process and trim down the requirements since beneficiaries had already undergone validation.

He added that Archival has its own team conducting verification, which he said he is trusting to align with the registered list.

 “Gamay pailob, gamay pasensya,” Alcover told drivers, assuring them he had not forgotten their needs.

The Cebu City Government initiated the fuel subsidy program earlier this year to cushion the impact of rising fuel costs on informal motorcycle-for-hire drivers.

Unlike formal public utility vehicles covered by national subsidies, habal-habal drivers were excluded from national aid programs.

The city stepped in to provide targeted assistance, recognizing their indispensable role in ferrying commuters, especially in areas that are difficult to reach.

The program’s rollout, however, was stalled by questions over inflated beneficiary lists, which initially ballooned to 35,000 names.

City officials discovered that many listed were not legitimate drivers, prompting a revalidation process that has now narrowed the count to 13,000. This step was seen as crucial in ensuring transparency and fairness in distribution.

With the list now cleared, Archival and Alcover expressed confidence that the subsidy will be released before the month ends, barring further administrative hurdles.

For thousands of habal-habal drivers who have waited since July, the assistance represents long-awaited relief amid persistently high fuel prices.