Fuel discount brings relief, but PUV drivers say it’s not enough

At a gasoline station in La Loma, Quezon City, jeepney driver Rodolfo Sumali anxiously filled up his vehicle, already resigned to the grim reality faced by many like him as fuel prices surged in recent weeks following tensions in the Middle East.

“Kasi talagang yung kita namin halos napupunta lang sa gas,” he said.

(Most of our earnings really just go to fuel.)

What he did not expect on Tuesday was a bit of relief at the pump.

According to a report by Maki Pulido on "24 Oras," Sumali was unaware that the government had just rolled out a P10 per liter fuel subsidy for public transport drivers as part of efforts to help ease the burden on drivers like Sumali amid the current fuel crisis.

When he finished refueling, he was surprised to learn he was eligible for a cashback at the gasoline station.

It's because the gasoline attendant input Sumali's jeepney plate number into a LandBank mobile application. Since his vehicle was on the list of qualified beneficiaries, the fuel discount was instantly applied.

“Nagulat din ang ibang jeepney drivers dahil hindi nila inasahan na may discount pala,” said gas station attendant Kimberly Marshal.

(Many jeepney drivers were surprised because they didn’t expect there to be a discount.)

Under the fuel discount program, only public utility jeepneys with existing franchises—both modern and traditional—as well as UV Express units are initially covered. Each unit is entitled to a subsidy of up to 150 liters per week until July.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the system is still being refined for nationwide rollout, with plans to eventually include other forms of public transport.

LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza explained how the subsidy works in practice.

“For example, magpapakarga siya ng 10 liters. Instead of paying kung ang presyo ng krudo, let’s say P150 per liter, instead of paying P1,500, ang babayaran na lang niya P1,400. Automatic deduction,” he said.

(For example, if a driver refuels 10 liters, instead of paying—if the price of fuel is, say, P150 per liter—he would normally pay P1,500, but he will only pay P1,400. It is automatically deducted.)

Mendoza said the subsidy offers more immediate relief compared to removing excise taxes, which would only translate to about P1 per liter benefit for diesel users.

For drivers like Roderick Tayogandaga, any help at the pump is welcome—but still far from enough.

“At least papasok yung kahit barya-barya lang. Hindi sapat po pero okay na rin yun kaysa wala,” he said.

(It may be loose change, but it's still better than nothing.)

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government is open to expanding support, depending on available funding.

“Gusto rin namin na kung may mas malaking budget o may ibang source ang gobyerno (We also hope that if the government has a bigger budget or another funding source), then I think this is a good system also to help out,” she said.

But transport group Manibela is not convinced. The group is calling for a rollback in fuel prices, arguing that oil companies continue to sell fuel based on older, lower-cost stocks even as global prices rise.

“Yung binenta ng mga oil company ay lumang stock na binili sa mas murang presyo. Pero nung tumaas ang presyo sa world market, umabot po hanggang 200% ang increase nito,” said Manibela president Mar Valbuena.

(The oil companies are selling old stock that was bought at a lower price. But when world market prices went up, it reached as much as a 200% increase.) 

“Ibig sabihin po, ang taong bayan ang bumili at nag-finance, namuhunan dito sa panibagong stock,” Valbuena added.

(This means that the consuming public paid for the new stock.)

The group said it will push through with its planned transport strike from Wednesday to Friday.—MCG, GMA News