Comelec allows LTFRB to resume fuel subsidy distribution

MANILA – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will resume its fuel subsidy distribution after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday announced that it has exempted the board from the cash disbursement ban due to the May elections.

“They could implement (the fuel subsidy program) immediately but they have to wait for our resolution. The announcement is not the resolution. They have to wait for our resolution because the resolution will contain the conditions,” Comelec Commissioner George Garcia in a press briefing said.

Garcia said the poll body is expected to release the resolution on Thursday or Friday.

“At least, this is (a) notice to the LTFRB and the different departments that they can now prepare the plan on how to properly implement the fuel subsidy, including the list of the beneficiaries,” he said.

Garcia assured that they support the fuel subsidy program.

“Definitely, we will issue the resolution containing the instruction. We know that Filipinos are waiting for this. The Comelec is not the commission that will prevent a very good project like this but we just want to make sure it is properly implemented,” he added.

Earlier, the LTFRB halted the implementation of its fuel subsidy program after the poll body’s spending ban took effect last March 25 which would run until May 8.

The government allotted PHP2.5 billion for fuel subsidy which is set to benefit 377,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers amid the increasing prices of fuel.