ILOILO City – Jeepney transport groups are urging operators to release to their drivers the fuel subsidy extended by the national government through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Some operators were not releasing the subsidy to their drivers or if they did release them, these were already below what the government intended for drivers to receive – P7,200 each – according to Raymundo “Boyet” Parcon, president of the Iloilo City Alliance of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (ICAJODA).
The fuel subsidy, dubbed as “Pantawid Pasada”, is in the form of a LandBank of the Philippines cash card.
“Iban nagreklamo nga wala makakuha sang Pasada card, wala nahatagan sang operators. Ang iban may buhin na,” Parcon told Panay News.
LTFRB coursed the drivers’ cash cards through jeepney operators who were supposed to distribute them immediately to their drivers.
According to Parcon, over 3,500 of ICAJODA’s 5,000 member-drivers have so far received their fuel subsidy.
“Kon maghatag ang driver sa operator, okay man. Kon hindi pagtagaan sang driver, wala man problema,” added Parcon.
He did not discount the possibility that some drivers could file complaints against operators at the LTFRB.
The P7,200 fuel subsidy, according to Parcon, is in response to the transport group’s fare hike request due to the increase in fuel prices and the impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic.
Meanwhile, Rizal Alido, president of the Iloilo City Loop Integrated Alliance of Jeepney Owners and Drivers Association (ICLIAJODA), said less than 50 percent of their about 400 members have already availed themselves of the fuel subsidy.
“I am requesting sa aton operators nga ihatag man sa drivers ang fuel subsidy. Indi nila pag-cash out and indi nila pagkuhaon kay para sa drivers ina,” Alido said in an interview with Panay News.
Drivers Leo Prudente of Pototan, Iloilo and Benjie Palermo of San Enrique, Iloilo were among those who already received their subsidies.
Prudente received his in November but “waay ko gin-withdraw sang tingob, gin-amat-amat ko lang patughong,” he said.
Prudente said the subsidy was a big help to him, especially with the ongoing pandemic.
Palermo agreed, saying he also received his P7,200 subsidy completely.
However, he said, the P7,200 is very small as against their fuel expenses, especially with the limited seating capacity enforced in jeepneys./PN
