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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senators back move to extend fuel subsidies amid looming oil price hike

Senators back move to extend fuel subsidies amid looming oil price hike

Published Jun 23, 2025 03:06 pm

At A Glance

  • Senators Raffy Tulfo and Grace Poe expressed strong support for President Marcos' fuel subsidy program amid Middle East tensions, urging the DOTr and LTFRB to ensure timely, fair distribution to affected transport workers and calling for swift aid to farmers and fishers impacted by rising fuel costs.
At least two senators have expressed support for President Marcos' move to extend fuel subsidies to sectors severely affected by potential oil supply disruptions in the Middle East due to escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
MB file photo
MB file photo
Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure the prompt and proper distribution of fuel subsidies to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators amid a looming oil price hike.
Tulfo expressed full support for President Marcos' plan to extend fuel subsidies to motorists, including public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators.
He immediately coordinated with the DOTr and LTFRB to ask about their action plans to ensure proper and timely distribution of fuel subsidies to the affected sectors who will heavily carry the burden of the projected oil price hike.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Michelle de Vera told Tulfo that PBBM tasked them, along with the LTFRB, Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to provide fuel subsidy when the increases occur next week.
The fuel subsidy program will be extended to modern PUV operators and drivers, traditional jeepney drivers, bus drivers, grab drivers, tricycle drivers, and delivery riders.
He also asked De Vera about the allotted ₱2.5 billion available funds for the fuel subsidy program under the transport sector, and De Vera said that the DOE has already issued a certification to allow the LTFRB to disburse the funds to the beneficiaries.
Tulfo then asked LTFRB Executive Director Loumer Bernabe how they plan to distribute fuel subsidies to beneficiaries because there were instances of delayed government fuel subsidy distribution for jeepney drivers in the previous years, which, he stressed, should not happen again this time.
According to Bernabe, their scheme of distribution would be through the use of existing Pantawid Pasada Cards / fuel cards, bank-to-bank transfer, transfer to E-wallet accounts and if in case the above transfer methods are not available, the subsidy may be distributed and claimed through over-the-counter in identified LBP Servicing Branches.
Bernabe shared that LTFRB will start processing the qualified beneficiaries as soon as the fund is downloaded from DOTR to LTFRB, and that the process will start on Monday, June 23.
Given these plans, Tulfo reminded DOTr and LTFRB to ensure that there will be proper guidelines for the fuel subsidy distribution.
Ito ay para masiguro na ang mga beneficiaries ay mga tunay nga na PUV drivers/operators/ o delivery riders at walang palakasan system, he said.
Ayokong marinig na mayroong nadehadong tsuper ng jeepney dito na dapat sana na makinabang sa programa, he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe said that the fuel subsidies to our drivers must be released with dispatch.
The 2025 national budget has earmarked P2.5 billion for this, which will cover drivers of public utility vehicles, taxis, ride-hailing services and delivery platforms, she said.
Farmers and fishers adversely affected by the higher fuel costs should also be aided through the P585 million allocation to the Department of Agriculture, he added.
Poe said that they trust that the amount to be released per beneficiary will be reasonable to help cushion the impact of oil prices.
She also expects the concerned agencies to speed up the paperwork to avert distribution delays, adding that since price hikes hit hard and fast, government intervention might be just as quick.

Related Tags

President Marcos fuel subsidy Raffy Tulfo Grace Poe
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