Poe prods gov't to release fuel subsidy for PUV drivers under 2022 nat'l budget

Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday urged the government to release the funds for the public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers’ fuel subsidy under the 2022 national budget amid the recent increases in oil prices.

The Senate public services committee chairperson also called on the stakeholders of gasoline stations to “ensure competitive prices by offering its customers discounts” on fuel products in the absence of oil price control under a deregulated regime.

“This will benefit both the public utility vehicle drivers and private motorists who are hurting from the incessant oil price increases as we continue to survive through the pandemic. It is unconscionable at this time to amass earnings as high oil prices squeeze the people dry,” Poe said.

“We also call on the government to release at once its promised subsidy to PUV drivers which has been funded in the 2022 budget,” she added.

Poe further asked the concerned government agencies to be thorough in vetting the list of fuel subsidy beneficiaries so that no qualified PUV driver is “left behind without any assistance.”

During the Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, Department of Energy (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau Assistant Director Rodela Romero said the agency is looking at temporary relief measures to combat the impact of the continuous increase in petroleum prices, noting that the global movement is out of its control.

(https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/822059/doe-calls-on-public-to-be-frugal-amid-series-of-pump-price-hikes/story/?just_in)

Romero said the agency is in coordination with other departments to implement a whole-of-government approach for relief measures amid the successive oil price hikes.

These temporary reliefs include the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) which is implemented by the Department of Transportation through the Land Transportation Franchising ang Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Under the PPP, PUV drivers are given financial aid to counter the higher prices of petroleum products.

Petroleum prices have been increasing in the past seven weeks.

Latest data available from DOE indicate that year-to-date adjustments stand at a total net increase of P5.70 per liter for gasoline, P7.95 per liter for diesel, and P7.20 per liter for kerosene as of February 1, 2022.

Pump prices have only been increased so far this year, following a net increase of P17.65 per liter for gasoline, P14.30 per liter for diesel, and P11.54 per liter for kerosene in 2021.

The increases have followed the global trend, given issues on supplies along with the geopolitical tensions hounding Russia and Ukraine. —Hana Bordey/KBK, GMA News