(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Around 78,000 operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJ) have received their one-time fuel subsidy from the government’s PHP1 billion fuel subsidy program.
During the program’s formal launch on Wednesday, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) – National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo said PHP7,200 were remitted to the beneficiaries through their existing “Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP)” cards from Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank).
“’Yun pong merong existing PPP cards, they have to check po sa ATM nila ‘yung account balance (Those who have existing PPP cards, they have to check their balance at the ATM). Again, we would like to put emphasis that this should be used for fuel purchases,” Tamayo said.
The funds are to be used to purchase fuel from participating gas stations including Petron, Shell, Seaoil, Total, Jetti, Rephil, Caltex, Petro Gazz, and Unioil.
In total, around 136,000 PUJ operators or franchise holders are qualified beneficiaries of the program.
During the event, officials from the LTFRB, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and LandBank signed the fuel subsidy program’s joint memorandum circular (JMC).
DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Giovanni Lopez said the program aims to ease the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising fuel costs on the transportation sector.
“Sa pamamagitan nitong programa na ito, mamang tsuper, nawa’y inyong patuloy at buong-puso niyong gampanan ang inyong mahalagang papel at tungkulin sa ating mga commuter (Through this program, we hope our drivers will continue to whole-heartedly fulfill their roles and responsibilities to our commuters),” Lopez said.
LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra III said the PHP1 billion fuel subsidy was made possible through the 2021 General Appropriations Act -- approved by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the Development Budget Coordination Committee.
“Kailangang tulungan natin ang transport sector lalong lalo na ang mga tsuper at operator ng PUJ, hindi lamang para maibsan ang gastusin sa araw-araw na pagmamaneho pero higit pa para masiguro ang pagpapatakbo ng pampublikong sasakyan (We need to help our transport sector especially drivers and operators of PUJs, not only to help subsidize their daily drives but also to ensure the continued operation of our public transportation),” Delgra said. (PNA)
