When the government announced that public transportation will be allowed to come back this week, the news brought a huge relief to drivers, as they can finally return to work and provide for their families again.
As Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers and Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers started to prepare for their eventual reinstatement on the roads of Metro Manila, there was one driver who went the opposite way: straight to the Central Office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Ronabelle Tadic, a solo parent and TNVS driver from Barangay Batasan Hills, Quezon City, drove her service vehicle to the DSWD to return the cash subsidy she received under the Department’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Ronabelle returned a total of PhP16,000 to the Department, an honesty that can never be counted in cash, despite her family’s current struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the government’s announcement, Ronabelle narrated how life has been hard for her family.
“Taghirap din ‘ho. Hindi ‘ho ako – hindi ‘ho kami nakakapagpasada kasi po tigil pasada kami. Hindi po lahat nabigyan ng pagkakataon na makabyahe sa LTFRB. So, sa ngayon po, wala akong hanapbuhay, tinutulungan lang po ako ng mga kapatid ko, mga in-laws,” Ronabelle said.
After receiving multiple subsidies from SAP, Ronabelle knew that the other set of cash subsidy was not for her, and that the first batch that she received was already sufficient for her family.
“Ah, isinoli ko po itong sobrang ayuda dahil alam ko naman po na hindi po ito para sa akin. Nagpapasalamat po ako dun sa dalawang ayuda na natanggap namin, laking tulong nun,” she added.
There was no doubt in Ronabelle’s mind that the cash subsidy could benefit other people who are in need. According to her, even if she initially received more than what was intended for her family, there were other families out there who greatly needed the financial assistance.
After receiving her official receipt as proof of returning the cash subsidy, Ronabelle encouraged others like her to give back the extra money they received.
“Kung sino man ‘ho ‘yung nakatanggap ng sobra, isoli niyo na ‘ho para naman makatulong sa iba. Huwag ‘ho kayong magalala na sa kamay ng kung sino man mapupunta ‘yung soli niyo, dumeretso po kayo dito sa DSWD office – tsaka meron naman pong resibo in case na magsoli po kayo,” Ronabelle expressed.
With public transportation now back, a TNVS driver drove the extra mile to return her “fare” that will be shared with others. Ronabelle’s honesty deserves more than a rating of five (5) stars. ###
