LTFRB: Fuel subsidy for jeepney drivers to be distributed before December

The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Thursday the P7,200 fuel subsidy for each of over 136,000 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers will all be distributed before December.

"We have a P1 billion budget for that, and half of that has been released since we started [distributing it] last Wednesday," LTFRB Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"It is our obligation to use and distribute that budget, and we will really try our best to finish this [distribution by the end of the month. We have a few days left for that so that by December, our beneficiaries will be able to receive it," she added.

LTFRB chairperson Martin Delgra earlier said state-run Landbank has already credited the P7,200 fuel subsidy to about 85,000 active Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) cards, but the bank has yet to produce over 50,000 cards.

Tamayo, however, said Landbank will not take too long in finishing the PPP cards.

"As we speak, they are printing these cards and some of them are already being distributed nationwide,"  she said.

The LTFRB has listed 136,230 beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy program.

Tamayo, however, reminded the beneficiaries that their respective operators entered into agreement with the government that the subsidy will only cover fuel expenses and should not be used for other purchases.

"Landbank will be able to see their transaction history and will report to us any violation of the provision, so we appeal to our beneficiaries to use it for fuel expenses because otherwise, it could affect the status of their franchise," Tamayo said.

"There is no hard and fast rule on sanctions, but we call on our beneficiaries to follow the rules because we want to continue this program," Tamayo added. — RSJ, GMA News