DAVAO CITY – Pwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat party-list Rep. Harold Duterte urged the government to ensure that fuel subsidies reach recipients.
Duterte, in a resolution, said that there should be a fair and uniform system in the distribution of fuel subsidies to recipients.
The lawmaker warned that current allocations may benefit only a small portion of recipients.
Duterte noted concerns about the budget set aside for fisherfolk as the current P50-million allocation would cover only roughly 16,667 beneficiaries with each receiving P3,000.
He stressed that this represents less than one percent of the sector and does not adequately support the majority of fisherfolk.
“The math simply does not add up,” Duterte said, emphasizing that subsidies must be expanded or adjusted to reach a wider group of qualified beneficiaries.
He warned against political influence in the program’s implementation.
“While our country is facing another crisis, we fervently hope that this will not be used for politics – to reach only administration bailiwicks,” Duterte said.
Duterte called on concerned government agencies to review the allocation and distribution processes for fuel subsidies to ensure assistance is delivered transparently and equitably across the country.