LTFRB says DOTr has asked P2.45B for fuel subsidy

The Department of Transportation has already requested the Department of Budget and Management for funds to cover the requirements for public utility vehicle drivers’ fuel subsidy amid the recent spike in petroleum prices, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Friday.

In a statement, the LTFRB said that in the request sent by the DOTr to the DBM, there are about 377,443 beneficiaries who will be receiving fuel subsidies amounting to P6,500 each [or a total of P2,453,379,500.]

“Bukod sa franchise grantees na traditional at modern PUV, isasama na rin ang Public Utility Bus (PUB), Minibus, Taxi, UV Express, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), Tourist Transport Service (TTS), maging ang mga tricycle na pinangangasiwaan ng Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Delivery Services sa Department of Trade and industry (DTI) at Department of Communications and Technology (DICT),” the agency said.

(Apart from franchise grantees such as traditional and modern PUV, also included in the program are Public Utility Bus (PUB), Minibus, Taxi, UV Express, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), Tourist Transport Service (TTS), as well as tricycles under the supervision of the DILG, Delivery Services under the DTI and DICT.)

The LTFRB issued the statement after Senator Grace Poe urged the government to release the funds for PUV drivers’ fuel subsidy under the 2022 national budget to ease the impact of rising oil prices. 

“Simula noong naipasa ang pondo ng gobyerno sa ilalim ng GAA [General Appropriation Act] 2022, agad nagpulong ang mga opisyal ng LTFRB upang maisaayos ang pagpapatupad ng fuel subsidy program ngayong taon,” it said.

(After the national budget under the GAA 2022 has been passed, officials of the LTFRB have immediately conducted a meeting to discuss how to implement the fuel subsidy program this year.)

The LTFRB said that the DOTr is now waiting for the release of the funding requirement requested from the DBM.

“Oras na mailabas ito, ibibigay ang nakalaang pera sa programa sa LBP [Land Bank of the Philippines] para mapabilis ang pagbibigay ng subsidiya sa mga benepisaryo,” it said.

(Once the funds are released, it will be given to LBP for the faster distribution of subsidies to beneficiaries.)

“Bagamat may pondo para sa pagpapatupad ng fuel subsidy program, may special provision ang DOTr kung saan mailalabas lang ang pondo oras na lumagpas ng $80 per barrel ang average ng Dubai crude oil price sa loob ng tatlong buwan, base sa Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS),” the LTFRB said.

(Although there are funds to implement the fuel subsidy program, the DOTr has a special provision in which the funds can only be released once the price per barrel of Dubai crude oil exceeds $80, based on Mean of Platts Singapore.)

“Sa kabila niyan, handa ang DOTr at LTFRB na ipagpatuloy ang fuel subsidy program na inaasahang sa April 2022 pa muling maipatutupad,” it added.

(Nevertheless, the DOTr and LTFRB are ready to continue the fuel subsidy program, which is expected to be reimplemented in April 2022.)

The LTFRB said that there were 136,230 franchise grantees -- traditional and modern jeepneys -- who received P7,200 fuel subsidy under the Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) since it began in 2020. —LBG, GMA News