As fuel prices continue to strain daily earnings, 738 jeepney drivers in Pampanga are receiving a vital financial lifeline through the Department of Labor and Employment’s TUPAD Tuloy Pasada Program. The initiative provides each beneficiary with ₱18,600 for a 31-day emergency employment period from May 18 to June 23, 2026, or ₱600 per day .
The program covers drivers plying the San Fernando-Angeles and Angeles City limits routes, ensuring that public transportation remains operational while helping transport workers cope with rising operational costs . DOLE has allotted more than ₱14 million for the Central Luzon rollout, covering wages, GSIS insurance, protective equipment, and administrative costs.
₱600 Daily Wage Helps Drivers Bridge the Gap Between Costs and Earnings
The impact of rising diesel prices on jeepney drivers has been severe. JODA Angeles City Chairperson Augusto Bagtas explained the financial strain his fellow drivers face: “Dati, nasa ₱100 lamang ang nagagastos namin sa diesel kada ikot, ngunit ngayon ay umaabot na ito sa ₱300. Kung noon ay nakapag-uuwi kami ng humigit-kumulang ₱700 na kita, ngayon ay nasa ₱300 na lamang dahil sa taas ng gastos sa biyahe”.
The TUPAD Tuloy Pasada program was designed precisely for this scenario. Beneficiaries are assigned staggered work schedules—6 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.—allowing them to continue their regular passenger routes while receiving the emergency wage support . Each driver receives GSIS insurance coverage and personal protective equipment as part of the package.
Part of Nationwide Push Supporting Nearly 10,000 Transport Workers
The Pampanga rollout is part of a larger national effort under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) pursuant to Executive Order No. 110 . As of May 28, 2026, close to 10,000 jeepney drivers and transport workers nationwide—9,981 beneficiaries to be exact—have received emergency employment assistance under the program, with total aid amounting to ₱45.2 million.
The program is currently being implemented across 10 regions, and profiling for additional beneficiaries is already underway . The nationwide target is 50,454 drivers, with an estimated total budget of ₱1.2 billion . For Pampanga’s 738 drivers, this assistance offers relief not only for daily expenses but also for keeping their livelihoods intact. “Malaki ang maitutulong ng TUPAD sa amin, lalo na sa pang-araw-araw naming pangangailangan at sa gastusin sa diesel,” Bagtas affirmed.
