Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra said the government will distribute fuel subsidy worth over P20,000 for each public utility jeepney next year pending the approval from Congress.
The fuel subsidy was created to cushion the impact of higher fuel excise tax among PUJ operators and drivers.
Delgra said the subsidy fund for 2019 will reach P3.9 billion. This year, the fuel subsidy program has a budget of only P977 million.
The LTFRB has started the distribution of Pantawid Pasada fuel cards to the operators and drivers of 179,000 PUJs nationwide.
He added that the fuel cards may only be used directly at gas stations with the point of sale devices, as this will serve as a proof that the amount was indeed used for fuel purchase after the LTFRB has flagged 22 beneficiaries using the fuel subsidies for other means.