THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is waiting for word from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) as regards the P1.6-billion fund for subsidies in the public transportation sector in the wake of recent fuel price increases.
As early as March, the Department of Energy (DOE) certified that the subsidy program should take effect after the price of crude oil breached $80 per barrel.
“Last month, nag-certify na po ang DOE to LTFRB, DOTr, at [Department of Agriculture] para i-trigger ang subsidy program dahil umabot na ng $80 last month pa lang,” DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad said.
Operators and drivers of modern jeepneys are entitled to P10,000 worth of fuel subsidy under the program, and P6,500 for buses, mini buses, school buses, taxis, and traditional jeepneys.
Delivery riders are given a P1,200 fuel subsidy while tricycle drivers are provided with P1,000.
“Meron batas that if the price of crude oil breaches 80 dollars per barrel, it will trigger the release of the fuel subsidy. Now, we are waiting for the advice from the DOTr para ibigay sa amin ang pondo para sa fuel subsidy,” said LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.
For his part, Guadiz admitted there are still problems with the distribution of the government subsidy.
“Nagkakaroon kami ng problema sa pagbabayad sa mga tricycle because this is being handled by DILG,” he said.
He added: “Minsan kulang-kulang ang listahan kaya ang previous fuel subsidy hanggang iniatang at binigay ng gobyerno, ngayon hindi pa namin fully naibibigay.”
Instead of a subsidy, some public utility jeepney drivers are calling for a fare increase amid the fuel price hike.
“‘Pag muli nilang ilalabas ‘yung kanilang ng petisyon, muli namin itong didinggin at kung may merito ang petition, we will consider their petition for a fare increase,” said Guadiz. (GMA Integrated News)
