At A Glance
- Makati City 2nd district Rep. Luis Campos Jr. has assured the sector that it will receive P2.5 billion worth of financial aid from the government this year to help cushion the blow of soaring fuel prices.
- So far this year, gasoline and diesel pump prices have increased by P8.20 and P4.50 per liter, respectively.
A queue of tricycles (MANILA BULLETIN)
Here's some good news for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
Makati City 2nd district Rep. Luis Campos Jr. has assured the sector that it will receive P2.5 billion worth of financial aid or "ayuda" from the government this year to help cushion the blow of soaring fuel prices.
“Congress earmarked the sum of P2.5 billion in the 2024 national budget specifically for the direct fuel subsidies to [PUV] drivers, including tricycle, ride-hailing, and delivery service drivers,” Campos said in a statement on Tuesday, April 9.
“On top of the amount for the transport sector, we also allocated another P510 million in financial assistance to provide relief to small farmers who use fuel to drive their agricultural machinery,” added the House Committee on Appropriations chairman.
Year-to-date, as of April 2, gasoline and diesel prices have increased by P8.20 and P4.50 per liter, respectively, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).
Campos stressed: “We are determined to sustain the annual funding for the subsidies to vulnerable sectors, so long as the Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) has reached $80 per barrel."
Last year, modern jeepney and UV Express drivers received P10,000 each and drivers of other modes of public transport received P6,500 each in subsidies.
Delivery riders received P1,200 each and tricycle drivers received P1,000 each. Meanwhile, farmers received P3,000 each.
The 2024 national budget or General Appropriations Act (GAA) driver-beneficiaries must be identified and validated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
Farmer-beneficiaries must be listed in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture.