ILOILO City — More than 7,000 public transport drivers across Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, have already received fuel cash subsidies from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) as authorities fast-track the release of assistance amid continuing fuel price increases.
LTFRB said over 7,000 out of more than 11,000 registered drivers in the region have already benefited from the government fuel subsidy program, with payouts continuing in provinces as officials await the next payroll batch from the agency’s central office.
Atty. Joscet Abellar, chief transportation development officer of LTFRB Region 6, said more than 2,000 drivers received the subsidy through e-wallet transfers while over 5,000 obtained the assistance through cash payouts conducted by LTFRB personnel in various provinces.
The agency is now preparing another round of releases for the remaining nearly 4,000 drivers who have yet to claim their subsidy.
Said Abellar: “Rest assured nga gina-obra sang aton ahensya ang tanan agud mabuligan ang aton transport sector. Ang mga wala naka-claim puede magkadto sa opisina para ma-check kun ara ila ngalan kay siling ko first batch pa lang ang nahatag nga payroll and we are awaiting sang second batch of payroll para sa aton drivers.”
Cash payout sites included the LTFRB Regional Office 6 in Iloilo City, while agency personnel also traveled to Aklan, Capiz, Antique, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City to distribute assistance directly to beneficiaries.
For transport operators, LTFRB said around 12,000 to 13,000 operators are included in the master list, with subsidy releases already credited through cash cards or bank accounts.
“Ang ila fuel subsidy nagasulod sa ila nga cash card ukon sa bank account,” Abellar added.
Operators without cash cards or bank accounts may still receive payouts in cash, although LTFRB said only a small number of operators fall under this category.
Abellar also addressed complaints from some drivers who claimed they did not receive subsidies, saying investigations showed some were only reliever or alternate drivers not included in the official submissions made by operators.
LTFRB clarified that colorum or unregistered public transport units are not covered by the subsidy program since the basis for inclusion is a confirmed unit with a valid franchise.
The fuel subsidy ranges from P1,500 to P10,000 depending on the type of vehicle and whether the beneficiary is an operator or driver.
Covered under the program are traditional and modern jeepneys, UV Express units, buses, minibuses, transport network vehicle service (TNVS) units, and taxis.
Meanwhile, LTFRB continued the provincial rollout of the first batch of fuel cash subsidy releases, including a payout activity held May 7 at Robinsons Place Roxas in Capiz where 247 beneficiaries received assistance.
The agency said more payout batches are scheduled in the coming days in different provinces across Region VI as the government continues its fuel subsidy distribution program for the transport sector./PN
