Workers in agriculture and transportation should have a regular and consistent fuel subsidy program to rely on whenever there are price spikes on the commodity.

With this in mind, Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan filed House Bill (HB) No. 8340 which sought a comprehensive fuel subsidy program for public transport workers, municipal fisherfolk, small farmers and agricultural producers, and other low-income sectors.

A cash aid of not less than P7,000 per month would be given to each qualified beneficiary under the proposed fuel subsidy program.

Yamsuan says the livelihood of these people are threatened by increases in petroleum products. Incidentally, this week will see double-digit hikes in pump prices of both gasoline and diesel, no thanks to the situation in the Middle East.

“Several measures have been filed in Congress seeking to provide fuel subsidies to specific sectors, such as fisherfolk and farmers, and separate proposals focused solely on public transport drivers. This bill builds upon these efforts by integrating them into a single, comprehensive program that covers all sectors whose livelihoods are directly dependent on fuel,” he said.

“While these occupations may differ, these beneficiaries share one reality—their ability to earn a living—and the food they bring to their families’ tables—are deeply and directly affected by the price of oil,” added Yamsuan, a vice chairperson of the Committee on Transportation, and former chairperson of the Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries Resources.

HB No.8340 says recipients of the fuel subsidy program must be registered to existing government registries to ensure that the aid reaches the target beneficiaries.

These include the databases of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Municipal Fisherfolk Registration System, the boat registry of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ((BFAR) and the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

“In this way, we would also be able to streamline the distribution of the aid, strengthen our sectoral databases, and encourage others who should benefit from the subsidy but have not yet been captured by the system to register,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan pointed out that these subsidies were not mere "ayuda" or doleouts, but are necessary to help tame inflation resulting from sudden spikes in fuel prices.

“Studies done in the agriculture and fisheries sector show that subsidies, which reduce the cost of production inputs, enable small producers to sustain operations during price shocks, and maintain supply levels that help stabilize the prices of food and other basic commodities,” said the first-time district congressman.

“In our country, sustaining the operations of farmers, fisherfolk and drivers grappling with skyrocketing fuel prices will ensure that essential activities--from food distribution to daily commuting---are not disrupted,” Yamsuan said.

The bill provides for the creation of an advisory council that will review and adjust the amount of cash subsidies whenever necessary. It will be chaired by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) secretary.