The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said it will distribute fuel subsidies ranging from P1,000 for tricycle drivers to P10,000 for modern jeepneys and modern UV Express drivers and operators within the month.
“The target of the Department of Transportation and the LTFRB is to implement the fuel subsidy program for the PUV operators and drivers hopefully before the end of August or within August,” said Joel Bolano, LTFRB Technical Division head.
He said they are just waiting for the Department of Budget and Management to download the P3 billion allocation that will benefit some 1.3 million operators and drivers of PUVs.
Under the scheme, traditional jeepneys and taxis as well as TNVS and school, shuttle, and tourist services will get a subsidy of P6,500, while delivery drivers will get P1,200.
LTFRB Executive Director Robert Peig earlier said drivers regulated by the agency would receive their subsidies through fuel cards, while those under local government units, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of Trade and Industry will get the funds through e-wallets.
Data from the Department of Energy showed that diesel prices have increased by about P10 per liter for the past five weeks, while gasoline prices have already risen by P5 per liter in the same period.
The consecutive increase in pump prices has prompted at least four public transport groups to seek a P2 fare hike for all PUVs nationwide.
In a letter to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III, the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Pagkakaisa ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), Stop & Go Transport Coalition, and the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) requested the P2 fare increase nationwide for the first four kilometers.
“The immediate action and consideration of the good chairman of the LTFRB on this matter will go a long way [toward] uplifting the economic conditions of the drivers and operators,” the groups said.
The LTFRB committed to resolving the fare hike petition but said it will temporarily shelve an earlier petition for a P1 rush hour fare hike, particularly between 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The LTFRB Board will still, however, resolve the first petition while prioritizing the most recent one filed due to oil price hike,” the LTFRB said.