Not all PUV drivers, operators have received fuel subsidies yet —group

The Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP) on Sunday said some public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators have not yet received their fuel subsidies from the government.

Interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, ALTODAP president Boy Vargas said that he is planning to meet with Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Teofilo Guadiz III to discuss matters regarding the fuel subsidy.

“Ang hinihintay sana namin ay 'yung fuel subsidy. Unang-una, ang sabi meron na pero talagang ganyan eh no. Mayroong meron na, mayroong namang iba na wala pa ring laman [ang card],” Vargas said.

(What we are waiting for is the fuel subsidy. Authorities said that it has been released already. Some have received theirs, but others haven’t.)

The LTFRB earlier said the fuel subsidies would be released last Wednesday, September 13.

The Department of Budget and Management approved on September 8 the release of P3 billion worth of funds to implement the Fuel Subsidy Program for transportation workers affected by rising pump prices.

Vargas, however, said that some branches of the Landbank of the Philippines (LandBank) are not releasing the cash cards for the subsidy due to the election spending ban in light of the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

“Ang sinasabi nila dahil daw na election ban, ayaw ibigay ang card. 'Yun ang lilinawin namin,” he added.

(They are saying that due to the election spending ban, they won’t release the cards. We will clarify that.)

The LandBank on Tuesday said it is still waiting for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt fuel subsidies from the election spending ban before resuming their distribution.

“The LandBank assures the fast and timely crediting of fuel subsidies and distribution of cash cards to intended transport beneficiaries nationwide once the prohibition to distribute in compliance to the election spending ban is lifted,” the bank said in a statement.

It added that the LTFRB is “currently working” on its request to exempt the fuel subsidy program from the spending ban ahead of the 2023 BSKE.

The cash cards could be used by PUV drivers in select gasoline stations in exchange for fuel to mitigate the impact of the consecutive big-time oil price hikes.

Citing the four-day Mean of Platts Singapore trading from September 11 to 14, Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau Assistant Director Rodela Romero said the following are the expected increases in the prices of fuel this week:

• Gasoline - P1.15 to P1.35 per liter
• Diesel -  P1.80 to P2.00 per liter
• Kerosene - P1.70 to P1.90 per liter

If this pushes through, it would mark the 10th straight week of upward adjustments for gasoline and 11th for both diesel and kerosene. —KG, GMA Integrated News