Salceda: Inexcusable to exclude tricycle drivers among beneficiaries of fuel subsidy

Albay Representative Joey Salceda on Monday underscored that tricycles should be included in the government's fuel subsidy program for public utility vehicle drivers who are adversely affected by the continuous oil price hike.

Salceda, chairperson of the House committee on ways and means, stated that under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, tricycles are included in the fuel subsidy program, which is funded with a total of P2,453,379,500.

"Under the law, DOTr (Department of Transportation) is mandated to provide fuel subsidy for tricycle," Salceda said during a congressional inquiry.

"It is inexcusable for you to assert that the tricycle is under the purview of the LGUs and therefore exempted... I think we should keep proper recognition to the tricycles, it is in the law," he added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) acknowledged that tricycle drivers are among the beneficiaries, however, there is an issue as regards the implementation.

DOTr senior consultant Engineer Alberto Suansing said the issue lies on "downloading" the funds as tricycles are under the local government units.

Suansing said the DOTr is already coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on the matter.

"Hindi naman natin ine-exclude ang tricycle. Kaya lang 'yung operational matters na po ang pag-uusapan natin kung papaano download sa mga tricycle drivers 'yung pera considering na hindi nga po parte ng LTFRB... saklaw ng LTFRB ang tricycle operation kung hindi nasa LGU po," Suansing said.

(We are not excluding tricycles. However, in operational matters, we are having issue on how the funds will be downloaded for tricycle drivers as they are not part of the LTFRB. They are under the LGUs.)

"Kaya po ang ginagawa po ng DOTr is nakikipag-ugnayan po sa DILG para malaman kung papaano natin gagawin 'yun," he added.

(The DOTr is now coordinating with the DILG on how we will do this.)

The DOTr had requested the Department of Budget and Management for funds to cover 377,443 beneficiaries who would be receiving fuel subsidies amounting to P6,500 each.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra said the documents needed for the release of the funds may be submitted until Tuesday, March 8.—AOL, GMA News