‘DAKO GYUD OG TABANG’: Capitol’s ‘Serbisyo Karaban’ goes to 6th District

Local

THOUSANDS of residents in Cebu’s 6th District received government assistance as the Cebu Provincial Government rolled out its “Serbisyo Karaban,” with habal-habal drivers among the first to benefit from a targeted cash aid program.

The initiative included financial support for transport workers alongside broader services extended to other sectors. Residents also received food packs, agri-fishery assistance, and access to various frontline government services under the caravan program.

The provincial government held the rollout at the Cordova Sports Complex on Wednesday, April 15, where it gathered beneficiaries from transport, agriculture, and vulnerable communities.

Officials released P3,000 each and rice subsidies to 87 habal-habal drivers, marking the province’s first direct cash assistance for the informal transport group.

Jimuel Escabas, 38, a habal-habal driver from Barangay Poblacion, said the aid helped ease daily difficulties.

“Dako gyud og tabang oy… samot na karon,” Escabas said, noting that his income dropped from P800–P1,000 a day to around P300.

Romeo Giltendez, 58, who has driven tricycles since 1991, also received rice assistance and described the situation as harsh.

“Pait jud kaayo. Mao nay giingon nila nga ihilak nalang,” Giltendez said.

The province also distributed 10 kilos of rice to 1,155 e-bike drivers, 102 trisikad drivers, and 771 motorcab drivers during the activity.

Farmers and fisherfolk received seedlings and fingerlings, while the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office provided wheelchairs and food packs to selected beneficiaries.

Cordova Mayor Didoy Suan said the local government coordinated with the province while pushing efforts to transition habal-habal drivers into regulated transport work.

“Actually ang habal-habal nag istorya na gyud me ni Gov… ako jud ng gibawal, amo na siyang gi-discourage,” Suan said.

Suan said habal-habal operations did not fall under a legal transport group in Cordova, pointing out that routes pass through highways and flat terrain in the municipality.

Despite regulatory concerns, he said the provincial government continued to extend assistance to help drivers transition to legal sources of livelihood.

Cebu Gov. Pamela Baricuatro expressed support for the program and stressed the need to continue assisting struggling sectors.

Baricuatro also acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents, noting that Cordova was selected for the initial rollout due to strong cooperation from the local government, with Sibonga set to follow.

Last week, the provincial government also carried out a separate rice distribution for public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers at the Cebu Provincial Capitol Grounds in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Central Visayas.

The Capitol rollout covered thousands of PUJ drivers who continue to struggle with rising fuel prices and shrinking daily take-home pay as operating costs remain high.

Officials initially distributed aid to about 2,120 drivers out of an estimated 4,000 target beneficiaries, with validation still ongoing to expand coverage.

Each beneficiary received rice packs sourced from local farmer cooperatives, aimed at directly offsetting household food expenses rather than providing cash assistance.(MyTVCebu)