The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the distribution of fuel subsidies to public transport operators will start Wednesday (Sept. 13) to cushion the impact of high petroleum prices.
The agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2023-038 provides the standards in the implementation of the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) or Fuel Subsidy Program (FSP).
Among those who can receive the subsidies are operators of public utility jeepneys, Filcabs, UV Express, minibuses, public buses, shuttle services, taxis, tourist transport services, school transport service, transportation network vehicle services, delivery services and tricycles.
Each operator of modern PUJs and UVEs who qualifies for the program will receive P10,000 in subsidy. Other operators of public transport will get P6,500 each.
Meanwhile, the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Department of Trade and Industry will provide each delivery service rider who qualifies for the program a P1,200 subsidy. The Department of Interior and Local Government will give P1,000 to tricycle drivers.
LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said the government would not favor any type of public transport for the subsidy program, although he confirmed the amount varies depending on whether the vehicle is modern or not.
“The amount allocated to each beneficiary of the subsidy depends on how much petroleum products are consumed by their public transport,” Guadiz said.
“But I want to make it clear that it will benefit everyone, modern or not, consolidated or not. This subsidy is for all our operators who are struggling due to the successive increase in the price of petrol,” he said.