LTFRB: Over 180K PUV operators granted fuel subsidy

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already given P6,500 each to over 180,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) operators as part of the government's fuel subsidy program.

In a statement, the LTFRB said that the distribution of the fuel subsidy program to public transport operators is ongoing.

The agency has identified over 377,000 qualified PUV drivers and operators and started the subsidy distribution in March.

The fuel subsidy aimed to help alleviate the plight of the public transport sector due to the series of price hikes on fuel brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

“Base sa pinakabagong datos ng ahensya, nitong June 1, 2022 ay nasa 180,061 na PUV operators na ang nabigyan ng fuel subsidy, o tinatayang nasa P1,170,396,500 na ang na-disburse na halaga ng subsidiya,” the LTFRB said.

(Based on data as of June 1, 2022, about 180,061 PUV operators were given the fuel subsidy, approximately P1,179,396,500 disbursed for the subsidy.)

“Ang nasabing bilang ay mula sa 264, 578 na kabuuang target na benepisyaryo ng LTFRB,” the agency said.

(The said number forms part of the 264,578 total target beneficiaries under the LTFRB.)

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P7 billion to expand the service contracting program (SCP) for affected public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers following the consecutive weeks of fuel price hikes.

The department said it released the P7 billion to the DOTr for the implementation of the program, in which operators and drivers who participate in the government’s free ridership program will receive a one-time payout of P4,000 and weekly payments based on kilometers traveled per week, with or without passengers.

PUV drivers, however, aired their grievances about the  delay in the release of the fuel subsidies and service contracting pay allotted to them.

“Batid ng ahensya ang hinaing ng grupo ng mga operators at drivers at ito ay ginagawan na ng kaukulang pansin at pagtutok upang sa lalong madaling panahon ay matangap na nila ang kanilang fuel subsidy,” the LTFRB said.

(The agency recognizes the grievances of the group of operators and drivers and is giving the corresponding attention to fast-track the granting of their fuel subsidy.)

The LTFRB said that so far there were 84,157 beneficiaries under its supervision who are yet to receive fuel subsidy.

“Mula sa bilang na ito, 57,841 na na benepisyaryo ang naisumite ng LTFRB sa Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) upang iproseso na ang kanilang bayad,” it said.

(Out of this number, 57,841 beneficiaries have been submitted by the LTFRB to the Land Bank of the Philippines for the processing of their credits.)

The remaining beneficiaries are still being processed by the Landbank for the creation of their ATM cards, the LTFRB said.

It added that the agency is continuously coordinating with the Landbank for the immediate release of beneficiaries’ ATM cards.

Meanwhile, out of the 12,965 beneficiaries under the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), such as delivery riders, 9,552 have already received their fuel subsidies.

The Landbank is processing a total of 27,777 beneficiaries under the DTI.

“Patuloy naman ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng LTFRB sa Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ukol sa mga benepisyaryo mula sa hanay ng tricycle drivers, ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ding naisumiteng listahan sa LTFRB,” the agency said.

(The LTFRB continuously coordinates with the Department of the Interior and Local Government regarding the beneficiaries from the tricycle sector, however, until now there is no list yet submitted to the LTFRB.) —NB, GMA News