Albay 3rd district Rep. Raymond Adrian Salceda is calling on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to release in the soonest possible time the guidelines for the Pantawid Pasada Program.

This, as world oil prices soared to over $100 per barrel Monday amid the escalating hostilities in the Middle East.

"Nanawagan po tayo sa LTFRB na ilabas na, sa lalong madaling panahon, ang guidelines para sa Pantawid Pasada Program. Tinamaan naman na ang USD 80 per barrel na trigger sa presyo ng krudo," Salceda said.

(We are calling on the LTFRB to release, at the soonest possible time, the guidelines for the Pantawid Pasada Program. The USD 80 per barrel trigger price for crude oil has already been reached.)

"On Feb. 2, way before the Iran Crisis hit, we filed House Resolution (HR) No, 719. The resolution called on LTFRB to release the fuel subsidy guidelines as soon as possible. We anticipated that there will be issues because as early as that time, the US was already saying it will not rule out military measures against Iran," he said.

"Although it was not considered a real possibility then, ayan na nga po. Dumating na (it has come to fruition)," noted the neophyte solon.

Salceda underscored the need for Filipinos to be informed of the ins and outs of the Pantawid Pasada Program amid the volatile fuel price situation.

"For policy certainty, para alam lang po ng publiko kung paano i-avail ang programa, at upang makapaghanda na rin ang mga ahensyang mag-iimplementa nito, sana po ay ilabas na (so the public knows how to avail of the program, and so implementing agencies can prepare accordingly, we hope the guidelines will be released soon)," he pointed out.

According to Salceda, it takes weeks if not months to roll out a program after the guidelines are released.

"Noong panahon po ng TRAIN Law, inabot din ng halos dalawang buwan bago naipamahagi ang Fuel Subsidy Cards sa karamihan ng benepisyaryo (During the TRAIN Law implementation, it took nearly two months before Fuel Subsidy Cards reached most beneficiaries)," he recalled.

"They released guidellines on July 11, 2018, and it took until about late August for most intended beneficiaries to receive their cards. So, the sooner we release this, the better," the Bicolano pointed out.

At any rate, Salceda thanked President Marcos for ordering local agencies to craft measures for farmers and fisherfolk, as well as other directly impacted sectors.

"Meron pong nasa P10 billion sa budget para sa Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk na maaring ipamahagi. Specific request po ito ng administrasyon sa budget noon, at mapapakinabangan na ngayong taon," he noted.

(There is about P10 billion in the budget allocated for Presidential Assistance for Farmers and Fisherfolk, which can now be distributed. This was a specific request of the administration in the budget then, and it will be put to use this year.)