Malacañang said that the P12-per-liter fuel discount for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers will continue as long as the transport sector needs government assistance amid the impact of higher fuel prices.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Aug. 6, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said there is currently no definite end date for the increased fuel discount, which will take effect on Aug. 15.

“Sa ngayon ay walang definite na panahon hangga’t kailangan ng tulong ng ating mga kababayan sa transport sector ay mananatili po ang pagbibigay po ng ayuda (For now, there is no definite period; as long as our fellow Filipinos in the transport sector need assistance, the government will continue providing aid),” she said.

The increase from P10 to P12 per liter was ordered by President Marcos as the administration continues interventions aimed at cushioning the transport sector from the impact of tensions in the Middle East.

The government previously said the higher discount would cover jeepney and UV Express drivers, while the P10-per-liter fuel discount rolled out in April had already benefited more than 93,000 PUV drivers.

Castro said the government has allocated P400 million for the fuel discount program, although details on how long the funding could sustain the assistance have yet to be released.

“Sa ngayon ay may inilaan po na 400 million pesos para sa fuel discount at ang pinakadetalye po nito mamaya po ay magkakaroon ng press briefing or presscon ang DOTr at alas dos po ng hapon para po mabigay niya ang pinakadetalye kung paano narating ang dose pesos or 12 pesos na fuel subsidy para sa ating mga tsuper (For now, P400 million has been allocated for the fuel discount, and the Department of Transportation will hold a press briefing at 2 p.m. to provide the details on how the P12 fuel subsidy for our drivers was determined),” she said.

Castro made the statement after being asked why the government settled on P12 per liter instead of the P20 reportedly recommended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

She said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) would provide further details on the computation behind the P12 discount and the expected duration of the P400-million allocation.

Meanwhile, Malacañang vowed to address concerns raised by transport group MANIBELA over the limited number of gasoline stations participating in the fuel discount program.

MANIBELA described the higher discount as only temporary relief and said some drivers still have to pay full price because they do not have access to participating gasoline stations.

Castro said the government would look into areas where more participating stations are needed to make the assistance more accessible to drivers.

“Lahat po iyan ay tinutugunan po ng ating pamahalaan at sa lahat po ng kanilang mga concerns ay makakaabot po ito para po matugunan nang mas mabilis kung ano iyong mga lugar na dapat pa na magkaroon ng mga gasoline stations na magbibigay ng fuel subsidy ay dapat po na matugunan kaagad (The government is addressing all of these concerns so that areas that still need gasoline stations providing the fuel subsidy can be identified and addressed immediately),” she said.

The administration has been studying additional assistance for the transport sector as higher fuel prices stemming from tensions in the Middle East raise concerns over increases in transport fares and commodity prices.

Marcos earlier directed DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez to assess the impact of rising oil prices and recommend measures that would provide relief to the transport sector while protecting consumers from higher transportation and commodity costs.