President Marcos has thanked the drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) for "being part of the solution" to overcome the impacts caused by oil price hikes, urging them to continue doing so.

Marcos made the call as he announced the provision of a P10,000 fuel subsidy for each bus unit during his visit at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City on Tuesday, March 24.

"So, tulungan ninyo naman kami para yung mga ating riding public ay hindi masyadong mahirapan, unang-una, at hindi sila masyadong mabigatan sa pamasahe dahil nga alam naman natin kung ano yung pangyayari – nagbabago yung presyo ng langis all over the world (So please help us so that our riding public won’t have too much difficulty—first of all—and won’t be too heavily burdened by fares, because we all know what’s happening: oil prices are changing all over the world)," Marcos told bus operators.

He stressed that the government is "always in need of assistance and support and cooperation with the operators, with the drivers" and the whole system.

The President asked them to keep the system going.

He also encouraged operators to reach out to the government in case there are further problems arising amid the looming oil crisis.

"Kung mayroong maging problema o kung mayroong sa palagay ninyo maging mas magandang sistema o to make it easier, make it faster, make it more convenient for you, for the riding public, sabihan niyo kami (If there turns out to be a problem, or if you think there’s a better system or a way to make it easier, faster, and more convenient for you and for the riding public, please tell us)," he told them.

"And kung palagay namin ay kaya naming gawin para pagandahin pa ang sistema, please tell us. Dahil ang gusto natin is very – as convenient as possible, as easy as possible, at as quick – yung mabilis as possible (And if we believe we can implement it to further improve the system, please let us know. Because what we want is for it to be as convenient as possible, as easy as possible, and as quick—as fast as possible)," he added.

Marcos also expressed confidence that the government, with the help of operators and the private sector, would be able to overcome the impact of Middle East tensions on oil prices in the country.

"So with the cooperation, ako malakas ang loob ko sabihin na pagka basta't nagtutulungan tayo, yung private sector at saka yung kayong mga operator at saka kami, in government, sana maging… Hindi na – yung pakiramdam ng ating riding public, ‘yan ang ating mga siniserbisyuhan. Matiyak natin na maging maayos ang kanilang pagbiyahe (I feel confident in saying that as long as we all work together—the private sector, you operators, and us in government—we can ensure… that the experience of our riding public, whom we serve, will improve. We can make sure that their travel is smooth and well-organized)," he said.

He also thanked them for being part of the efforts to respond to the ongoing crisis.

"So, thank you all for being part of the solution at patuloy nating gagawin ito hanggat kailangan (and we will continue doing this for as long as it is needed)," he said.

According to Marcos, the distribution of P10,000 fuel subsidy for each bus unit starts nationwide on Tuesday. The cash assistance will be provided through digital payment.