KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines (PNA) — Some 2,000 holders of tricycle franchise have not received from the local government units of Kidapawan City and Kabacan, both in North Cotabato province, their "Pantawid Pasada" cards, a councilman here said.

Kidapawan City Councilor Lauro Taynan, co-chair of the Committee on Transportation of the Sangguniang Panglungsod, said that of the more than 2,500 tricycle franchise holders in the city, at least 1,200 of them have not yet benefited from the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) or "Pantawid Pasada" of the national government, which is intended for operators and drivers of the tricycles or motorcabs-for-hire.

In nearby Kabacan town, at least 669 holders of franchises for passenger tricycles have not received their cash assistance from the Office of the Municipal Treasurer.

Taynan said some of the operators could not get the cash assistance from the LGU because they lack requirements.

The distribution of the Pantawid Pasada cards in the city and in Kabacan town started in August.

Taynan has urged franchise holders to get the cash before the deadline on October 14.

“The unused funds would be returned to the central office and could no longer be used for any assistance, thus, I call on tricycle franchise holders to get the cash as soon as possible. The cash can buy at least five kilos of rice for a family of six,” said Taynan.

The distribution of one-time assistance of P150 per tricycle unit is mandated under Executive Order 32 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

This assistance is given in the light of the prevailing high fuel prices.

Under the implementing guidelines, the regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will forge a memorandum of agreement with concerned local chief executives who will prepare and certify the list of tricycle franchisees in their localities.

The list shall be the basis of the DILG in the computation of the cash subsidy.