ILOILO City – The release of the Pantawid Pasada fuel subsidy of the national government for public utility jeepneys has started.
According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 yesterday, each driver is entitled to receive P6,500.
The subsidy is being coursed through ATM (automated teller machine) cards and could be withdrawn in any of Land Bank of the Philippines’ branches.
LTFRB Region 6 director Richard Osmeña appealed to jeepney operators keeping for themselves the cash cards to release the subsidy to their drivers in full.
“The money is intended for the drivers para magtughong sang krudo,” said Osmeña.
The P6,500 is just the first tranche of the subsidy. There will be a second one this April, he revealed.
Taxi drivers will also have Pantawid Pasada fuel subsidy, according to the director.
Raymundo Parcon, president of the Western Visayas Transport Cooperative, welcomed the start of the Pantawid Pasada release.
“Daku ini nga bulig pero agi lang kay ti duha lang ka bulan. Lain ni sa aton gina-fight gid ya subong nga i-suspend ang excise tax,” Parcon told Panay News.
Last week, the Department of Budget and Management said releasedP2.5 billion for the public transport sector as fuel subsidy.
Some 377,443 beneficiaries are eligible for the fuel subsidy./PN
