(File photo)
MANILA – Independent presidential candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Thursday has lauded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for exempting the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) fuel subsidy grant from the ban on the disbursement of public funds amid the election period.
"Way to go and kudos to the Comelec for acting expeditiously on such a no-brainer issue involving the fuel subsidy grant under the Special Provision under the Department of Transportation's 2022 budget," Lacson said in a press statement.
Lacson said the fuel subsidy program being implemented by the LTFRB will be of great assistance to the affected sectors.
"This is a great deal for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators, as well as farmers and fisherfolk who are dealing with the continued rise in prices of oil," he said.
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 vehicles (PUVs), operators, and drivers, amid the increasing prices of fuel.
Lacson earlier said the fuel subsidy is a "call of the times" as the continued rise in oil prices threatens to crush those in the transport sector, as well as fisherfolk and farmers.
"Unless there is jurisprudence along that line, I don’t think the national government should be covered by the election ban on providing social services to our people, especially at a time when the prices of fuel continue to go up," he said.
Lacson said the Senate should act on the issue by exercising its oversight functions and questioning the basis of the implementing agencies for suspending the subsidy.
"Hindi ko ma-reconcile ang vote-buying pagdating sa ganyan (I do not see how that can be construed as vote-buying)," he said.
Lacson noted that the General Appropriations Act stipulates that the government provides subsidies to affected sectors.
Lacson also supported calls for the exemption of teachers' election honoraria from taxes.
"It goes without saying that I support such an appeal from our public school teachers. It is the least that the government can give them as an incentive for the extra and thankless - yet patriotic - duty," he added.
Lacson also said that there is no time to lose for the agencies concerned to act on the matter.
"Our teachers who are going on election duty deserve no less," he added. (PNA)
