A Quezon City tricycle driver who had been in and out of the hospital since early March died Thursday without ever receiving the P5,000 government fuel subsidy he was entitled to — after authorities turned away his daughter when she tried to claim it for him.
Jimmy Gariga, 60, had been a tricycle driver for three decades and was a member of the Batasan Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association. He was among those listed as qualified beneficiaries of the fuel assistance program rolled out by the government in response to rising petroleum prices. Payouts in Metro Manila began Tuesday.
When Gariga’s condition made it impossible for him to collect the money himself, his daughter Shikinah lined up in his place on Tuesday, armed with an authorization letter he had signed despite his condition and a medical certificate.
“Yung time po na yun sabi ko, ‘Pa, may ayuda ka.’ Sabi ko, ‘kaya mo? Kaya mo mag-sign?’ Nag-sign. Nag-sign po siya for authorization. Kahit hindi niya po kaya, hindi niya magalaw, pinilit niya po,” Shikinah told GMA News 24 Oras in a report by Ian Cruz aired Friday.
She was turned away. Officials told her that a representative could not sign on behalf of a listed beneficiary.
“Nagtututuro na po kung sino po puwede kakausap sa akin. Dahil nga po, si Papa ang nasa masterlist pero ako po yung mag-sign. Bawal daw po yun… Okay lang naman po kahit hindi nakuha ni Papa yung payout. Pero sana po sa susunod, maging case-to-case basis,” Shikinah said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development acknowledged the limitation in its current system. Secretary Rex Gatchalian said paymasters face personal liability if they accept authorization letters and a fraudulent claim later surfaces — a risk, he said, the agency cannot place on frontline staff.
“Kawawa rin naman yung tao namin. Dahil in that sense na pag nagkamali siya, may tinanggap siyang authorization because pinakita to pero in the end nag-claim yung tao, ang mananagot sa liability na yun yung paymaster… Hindi naman hindi ibibigay sa kaniya. Mag-i-schedule kami ng multiple special payouts,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD said it visited Gariga’s wake and provided burial assistance. The agency said it had also extended medical assistance to him during his hospitalization. Officials added they are studying ways to improve the distribution process.
Beyond Gariga’s case, other tricycle drivers in Quezon City also failed to receive their subsidies due to problems with lists submitted by the city hall. QC Social Services Development Department OIC Ma. Lorelei Salvador said the office is working to resolve the discrepancies.
“So magkakaroon, magsa-submit ulit kami ng listahan sa DSWD. So inaayos na namin to. Yung mga listahan mag-open uli. Kukunin uli namin sa mga presidente ng TODA kung sino pa sa mga miyembro nila ang hindi pa nakakatanggap,” Salvador said.
Drivers of other public utility vehicles are next in line to receive the fuel subsidy following the Metro Manila tricycle driver payout.
