(Photo Courtesy: Philippine News Agency/DBM)

QUEZON CITY, (PIA) – Some 1.36 million public utility vehicle drivers and operators will receive fuel subsidy to cushion the impact of oil price hike.

The Department of Budget and Management approved the release of the P3-B fund following the request of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) dated August 2023 and in line with the Special Provision (SP) No. 7 of the authorized agency-specific budget under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 

“Transportation is the lifeblood of our economy. Bilin po sa amin ni President Bongbong Marcos na tulungan at huwag pabayaan ang ating mga manggagawa sa transport sector. Kaya naman po sisiguruhin namin na mabibigyan sila ng nararapat na tulong mula sa gobyerno (President Bongbong Marcos has directed us to help and cater to the needs of workers in the transport sector. That is why we will ensure that they will be given with the necessary assistance from the government),” said Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has validated the amount of assistance that will be provided according to the mode of transportation as the lead implementing agency of the Fuel Subsidy Program (SFP) under the DOTr.  

The Modernized Public Utility Jeepney (MPUJ) and the Modernized Utility Vehicle Express (MUVE) have been allotted P10,000 while the Traditional PUJ, Traditional UVE, Public Utility Buses (PUB), Mini Buses, Taxis, Shuttle Services Taxis, Transport Network Vehicle Services, Tourist Transport Services, School Transport Services, and Filcabs will all receive P6,500. 

A subsidy amounting to P1,000, on the other hand, has been set aside for Tricycles and P1,200 for Delivery Services. 

The following allocations were jointly sustained by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), respectively. 

The DILG and the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) are tasked to distribute the fuel subsidy to eligible beneficiaries based on the identified modes of payout, procedures, and agreed schedule that will be issued by the LTFRB. 

In addition, the LBP will furnish the DOTr and the LTFRB with the relevant reports that shall inform them of the appropriateness and timeliness of payout for transparency and monitoring purposes. 

It can be recalled that the DBM initially did not pursue the request of the DOTr due to the lack in the submission of supporting documents including the provision of guidelines on their end and from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Last September 4, 2023, the DOTr fully complied with the documentary requirements signed by the respective heads of the DOTr, DBM, DOE, LTFRB, and the LBP. (DBM/PIA-NCR)