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MANILA, Philippines — Public transportation drivers will receive a P5,000 fuel subsidy starting Tuesday, March 17, to help cope with rising fuel prices amid tensions in the Middle East, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.
The Office of the Executive Secretary announced the fuel subsidy on Wednesday, March 11, after convening a meeting with Metro Manila mayors to finalize their plan for an efficient distribution of financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) and tricycle drivers.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez said at a Malacañang press conference that tricycle drivers will be the first to receive the P5,000 fuel subsidy, followed by jeepney, taxi, Transportation Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and bus drivers. The fuel subsidy will initially roll out in Metro Manila before expanding nationwide.
"Uunahin po natin ang mga tricycle drivers under the jurisdiction of the respective LGUs, tapos susunod sunod natin ang mga jeepney operators," he said. (We will prioritize tricycle drivers under the jurisdiction of their respective LGUs, followed by jeepney operators.)
Meanwhile, Gatchalian explained that tricycle, jeepney, taxi and other PUV drivers are "now considered individuals in crisis situations," making them eligible for aid from the P63-billion Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) fund.
"By Tuesday next week, sisimulan na natin yung pagbibigay ng tulong pinansyal na naghahalaga sa P5,000 sa mga apektadong sektor," he said. (By next Tuesday, we will begin providing financial assistance worth P5,000 to the affected sectors.)
Local government units will be required to submit an official list of drivers in their areas to the DSWD by today so the agency can immediately process the financial assistance.
San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, president of the Metro Manila Council, said LGUs will verify the names using the driver's license of tricycle, jeepney, and other PUV operators to ensure the accuracy of the information provided to the DSWD.
He added that a blanket certification will also be issued to confirm that the lists include the actual drivers in each city, particularly for members of the Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA).
Lopez assured the public that all public transport drivers in Metro Manila will receive financial assistance from the government while oil prices remain volatile due to the US-Iran conflict. The fuel subsidy seeks to ease the burden on both drivers and commuters and help temper any surge in the cost of goods and services nationwide.
"Now, kung kailan namin bibigyan, definitely lahat po 'yan mabibigyan. Ang sinasabi lang po, we have to start somewhere and sisimulan na po namin sa tricycle drivers dito sa NCR by next week," he added.
(Now, when we provide the aid, everyone will definitely receive it. What we’re saying is that we have to start somewhere, and we will begin with tricycle drivers here in the NCR by next week.)
The Department of Transportation is also considering other interventions to prevent an economic shock from rising prices, such as encouraging toll operators to provide discounts for buses and trucks carrying essential goods.
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Georgina Yang of the Office of the Executive Secretary said President Bongbong Marcos has instructed the implementation of a whole-of-society approach, which includes providing non-cash assistance to vulnerable sectors, not limited to transportation workers.
Oil companies increased prices this week by double digits, implementing the hikes on a staggered basis, with diesel costing more than P24 per liter and gasoline over P13 per liter.
Global oil markets have been on edge due to potential supply disruptions as the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, faces restrictions amid US-Iran airstrikes.
Marcos plans on suspending fuel excise taxes once Congress passes a bill granting him emergency powers to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products.
