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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider 'Release of P8-B fuel subsidy for farmers, fishers, drivers' --- Pangilinan

'Release of P8-B fuel subsidy for farmers, fishers, drivers' --- Pangilinan

Published Mar 2, 2022 01:27 pm

Aspiring vice president Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan has demanded the immediate release of the P8-billion fuel subsidy to farmers, fisherfolk, and drivers allocated in the 2022 national budget amid the current surge of oil prices.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan (TRoPa2022)

"May pera sa budget. Kailangan na lang i-release. Gawin na ito ASAP (There is a fund for such in the budget. It just needs to be released. Do this as soon as possible)," Pangilinan said.

“Hirap na hirap na ang ating mga kababayan. Kailangan ng agarang aksyon (Our fellowmen are suffering. They need prompt response),” he said, repeating his call for a crisis manager who will avert the impending fuel and food crises that are the result of the tensions between Ukraine and Russia.

The fuel subsidy program, which shall provide financial assistance/fuel vouchers to workers in the transportation and agriculture sectors when world oil price reaches or exceeds $80 per barrel, has a total budget of P8 billion in the 2022 GAA: P2.5 billion under the Department of Transportation (DOTr), P500 million under the Department of Agriculture (DA), and P5 billion in the Unprogrammed Appropriations.

The Senator has expanded the coverage of the fuel subsidy program in the General Appropriations Act of 2022 to include taxi, tricycle, and ride-hailing and delivery services. It was subsequently approved by the Senate and then both Houses of Congress.

Without the amendment, the fuel subsidy program will only cover public utility jeepneys and buses.

The Senate also approved Pangilinan’s amendment to increase the budget for the program from P5 billion to P10 billion, but this was not carried in the bicameral version of the 2022 national budget bill.

Due to the Ukraine-Russia war, it is projected that fuel prices may jump to as high as P77 per liter for gasoline and P73 for diesel, a Department of Energy (DOE) official said on Monday, Feb. 28, using data from analysts.

In the international market, the Brent crude shot up to over US$105 per barrel last week, the highest on record since 2014, following Russia’s offensives against Ukraine.

As of Feb. 24, the average price per liter of gasoline stood at P65.05, diesel at P57.45 and kerosene at P62.84 in Manila, the DOE said.

READ MORE: Oil prices to rise for the 9th time after global prices hit $100/barrel

Related Tags

fishers Fuel subsidy SENATOR FRANCIS KIKO PANGILINAN 30222 farmers
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