A ranking official in the House of Representatives has joined the calls for transportation authorities to expedite the release of fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
San Jose del Monte City Rep. Florida “Rida” Robes called on the leadership of the Department of Transportation and Railways (DoTR), as well as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), to immediately release the earmarked P5 billion worth of subsidies for the beleaguered sector.
This was espoused by the House Committee on Transportation vice chairperson in her House Resolution (HR) No.2515.
“The DoTR and the LTFRB are tasked to issue the fuel subsidies. However, it is taking some time to release the assistance supposedly due to certain requirements needed from drivers," Robes said in her resolution.
Due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, the price of crude in the world market has ballooned to more than $120 per barrel, triggering another round of big time price increases in local pump prices. Diesel has gone up to more than P13 per liter while gasoline increased by P7 per liter increase.
The 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) or national budget provides for at least P5 billion in automatic fuel subsidy whenever world oil prices breaches the $80 per barrel-mark.
She said the skyrocketing petroleum prices are expected to further burden the already long-suffering PUV drivers, who have yet to recover from the ill-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The DOTr and LTFRB should be mindful of the exigency of the situation and proceed with dispatch the immediate release of the fuel subsidy in order to give reprieve to our drivers.