LTFRB temporarily suspends fuel subsidy distribution amid election spending ban

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has temporarily suspended the allocation of fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators due to the election public spending ban.

In an Unang Balita interview on Monday, LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion said about 110,200 of their PUV beneficiaries have already received subsidies as of March 29.

There are at least 22,000 taxi and UV Express beneficiaries undergoing document validification, Cassion said, while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is set to provide subsidy to about 27,000 delivery services.

For tricycle drivers, the LTFRB said it is still waiting for the list of beneficiaries from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

However, the disbursement for the PUV drivers and operators was temporarily stopped due to the public spending ban that is in effect from March 25 to May 8, 2022.

Under Comelec's Resolution No. 10747, a certificate of exemption is needed to implement activities and programs on social welfare projects and services amid this ban.

"Before the ban, nagkaroon tayo ng application sa Comelec for exemption at nagkaron na po tayo ng hearing [we applied for exemption from Comelec and we had a hearing]. Right now, we are just waiting for the result of our application for exemption sa ban so we can continue distribution," Cassion said.

While waiting for the poll body's decision, the LTFRB executive said they will continue the production of some 86,000 Pantawid Pasada Program (PPP) cards for the other beneficiaries.

The transport sector in March started the distribution of P6,500 fuel subsidies to over 377,000 qualified PUV drivers and operators to help alleviate their plight due to the series of price hikes on fuel brought by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

The subsidy could be claimed through cash cards issued by the Landbank of the Philippines that can be used in accredited fuel stations.  —KBK, GMA News