A party-list lawmaker on Friday urged the Department of Transportation to ensure the effectiveness of the Pantawid Pasada Program as a way of mitigating the impact of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law on jeepney drivers.
Citizens Battle Against Corruption Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna was referring to the P5,000 subsidy to each driver for six months under the doleout program of the government through the DoTR.
“I urge the leadership of the DOTr to examine if the P5,000 subsidy is enough to sustain our drivers for six months amid the rising prices of commodities brought about by the TRAIN Law,” Tugna, chairman of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms, said.
The DoTR said that it would implement the subsidy under the social protection component of TRAIN Law as inflation rate rises.
Tugna said there is a need to ensure the underprivileged families would benefit from the “social protection” component of the TRAIN Law.
“Our jeepney drivers serve as a vital component in our transportation sector. It is only befitting that the government extend all the necessary aid to augment their income,” Tugna said.
“Likewise, we in the House of Representatives will do our part and look for viable options to help alleviate the problems of our ailing transport sector,” he added.
He also hailed the DoTR, Department of Finance and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for cooperating in the implementation of the PPP.
Tugna said that the DoTR being the implementing agency should determine if the amount given is enough.
“The fuel subsidy program, once effectively rolled out, would help our drivers cope with the soaring prices of diesel fuel,” said Tugna.