P10/liter subsidy for jeepneys, UV Express available in 46 gas stations in NCR

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Thursday announced that the government’s P10-per-liter fuel subsidy program is now available to eligible drivers of passenger jeepneys and UV Express at 46 fuel retail stations across Metro Manila.

In a news release, the DOE said the 46 participating fuel retail stations were selected based on the six routes identified by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), namely Commonwealth Avenue, Marcos Highway, Quezon Avenue-España Boulevard, A. Bonifacio Avenue (Cloverleaf-Blumentritt), Rizal Avenue, and Zapote Road. 

“This subsidy is immediate, targeted, and practical relief. It helps reduce fuel costs for our public utility vehicle drivers and operators, supports the continued viability of transport operations, and helps ease further pressure on commuters who rely on affordable public transportation every day,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin.

The fuel subsidy program, approved by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week, forms part of the government’s targeted response to global oil market volatility following the declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency amid the war in the Middle East.

The 46 participating fuel retail stations are as follows:

 

 

However, several jeepney drivers on Thursday were unable to avail the P10-per-liter fuel subsidy at a participating gas station in Manila, raising concerns over the initial implementation of the program.

The incident happened at a fuel station along España Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila — one of the sites identified for the pilot rollout of the fuel subsidy, according to a Balitanghali report of James Agustin.

Nelson, a jeepney driver plying the Philcoa–Pier route, said he spent more than P600 for five liters of diesel without the subsidy.

“Dati sa 5 litro, P50 peso 'yung tinipid namin eh. Nakadagdag sa kita namin ’yon (Before, for 5 liters, we could save P50. That really adds to our income),” he said.

Another driver, Jose Nabu-Ab, who operates along the Cubao–Remedios route, said he also asked about the discount but was unable to avail of it.

“Malaking tulong po 'yun kasi kumakarga po kami ng 20 litros mahigit sa isang araw (That would be a big help because we usually load more than 20 liters a day),” he said.

The gas station manager, who declined to be interviewed on camera, said the issue may have been due to staffing limitations, noting that the lone attendant on duty at the time did not have access to the app used to verify eligible drivers.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said it is looking into the incident.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government needs feedback to address gaps before a nationwide rollout.

“Kailangan namin itong feedback na ito para ayusin bago namin i-roll out sa buong bansa (We need this feedback so we can fix the system before rolling it out nationwide),” she said.

She added that only selected gas stations are currently participating in the program and that clearer signages may be needed to guide drivers.

“Actually, 'yung iba may tarpaulin… lakihan nila nang konti para kitang-kita ng mga jeepney driver natin (Some stations already have tarpaulins… they just need to make them bigger so drivers can clearly see them),” Garin said.

The DOE said it will conduct inspections of participating gasoline stations to monitor the implementation of the program, verify compliance with its operational requirements, and help ensure that eligible beneficiaries are able to avail of the discount properly and without disruption.

The P10-per-liter fuel subsidy program’s implementation is led by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB, in coordination with the DOE and Land Bank of the Philippines which serves as the program’s digital payment platform provider.

Under the program, eligible PUVs validated by the LTFRB are enrolled in the Landbank’s fuel subsidy platform. 

When a qualified vehicle refuels at a participating station, the P10-per-liter discount is automatically applied upon payment.

Transactions are recorded in real time to ensure accurate computation of discounts, proper monitoring of weekly subsidy balances, and generation of verifiable transaction records. 

The DOE said the program will be expanded to other parts of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao once the LTFRB have identified the routes for coverage in the next phases of implementation.—with a report from Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA News