Fuel subsidy program for PUV operators to resume in April: LTFRB

MANILA – Operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) and those providing delivery services are expected to receive another fuel subsidy from the government once the program resumes in April this year.

“Handa ang DOTr [Department of Transportation] at LTFRB na ipagpatuloy ang fuel subsidy program na inaasahang sa April 2022 pa muling maipatutupad (The DOTr and LTFRB are ready to continue the fuel subsidy program that is eyed to resume in April 2022),” the LTFRB said in a statement on Friday.

While the budget for the program has already been approved under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2022, the LTFRB is still awaiting the release of the funds from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Oras na mailabas ito, ibibigay ang nakalaang pera sa programa sa LBP [Land Bank of the Philippines] para mapabilis ang pagbibigay ng subsidiya sa mga benepisaryo (Once released, the allotted funds will be given to the LBP to accelerate the distribution of the subsidy to beneficiaries),” the LTFRB said.

The program, it said, will have a total of 377,443 beneficiaries who will receive a fuel subsidy amounting to PHP6,500.

These beneficiaries will include franchise grantees of traditional and modern PUVs, buses, mini-buses, taxis, UV Express, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), and tourist transport services.

Also included are tricycle operators under the purview of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and delivery services under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

It noted that the DOTr has a ‘special provision’ for the fuel subsidy program where the program funds will only be released if the average price per barrel of Dubai crude oil exceeds USD80 for three months based on the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS).

In response to allegations from the group ‘Bayan Muna’ of failing to distribute subsidies from the previous implementation of the program, the LTFRB said all 136,230 target beneficiaries of the program have received their subsidy.

“Ang PHP7,200 na Fuel Subsidy ay ibinigay ng LBP sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) cash card na una nang naibigay sa mga benepisaryo noong aktibo pa ang programa hanggang 2020 (The PHP7,200 fuel subsidy was distributed by LBP through the PPP cash card that was first given to beneficiaries when the program was active until 2020),” the LTFRB said.

For beneficiaries who did not have a cash card, it said they were given new cash cards in coordination with LBP.

It said that the fuel subsidy amount is based on the program’s budget of PHP1 billion during its previous implementation.

“Tinitiyak ng LTFRB na patuloy ang pagtulong ng ahensya sa mga miyembro ng pampublikong transportasyon na nangangailangan sa gitna ng nararanasang pandemya sa bansa (The LTFRB assures continued assistance to members of the public transportation sector that need help in the midst of pandemic),” the LTFRB said.