Comelec: Decision on LTFRB petition to resume fuel subsidies to be released Thursday

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said its decision regarding the appeal of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to be exempted from the public spending ban during elections and allowed to continue their fuel subsidy disbursement will be released on Thursday.

During a Laging Handa briefing, Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said that they requested the LTFRB last week to submit evidence and a position paper regarding their fuel subsidy program.

These files are currently undergoing a study and a recommendation will be presented to the en banc on Thursday, he added.

“‘Wag po kayong magalala, lalong-lalo na sa mga kababayan natin na mga drayber ng pampublikong sasakyan at ‘yung umaasa sa fuel subsidy, kaagad po namin ‘yang aaksyunan. Hindi na po natin ide-delay ‘yan,” Garcia said.

(Don't worry, especially our public transport drivers and those who rely on the fuel subsidy, we will take immediate action. We will not delay that.)

“At the same time, titignan natin kung tama ‘yung naging petisyon, tama ba ‘yung procedure na gagawin ng LTFRB sa pamamahagi nitong mga fuel subsidy, at paano ang implementasyon ng proyektong ito,” he added.

(At the same time, we will see if the LTFRB’s petition is correct, whether the distribution procedure that the LTFRB will do is right, and how this project will be implemented.)

The LTFRB suspended the allocation of fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators due to the public spending ban, which 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.

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. — BM, GMA News