Comelec grants LTFRB petition to exempt fuel subsidy distribution from election ban

The Commission on Elections on Tuesday granted the petition of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to exempt its distribution of fuel subsidy to operators and drivers from the election ban.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia said the resumption of fuel allocation for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators was subject to strict implementation of the guidelines.

“We granted the petition of the LTFRB as regards to fuel the subsidy program. However, the grant of the petition to LTFRB is subject to the strict implementation of the program by submission of information on how the project will be implemented, the parameters of implementation and specially the specific target beneficiaries on how they will apply to avail of the grant of the programs,” Garcia said at a news briefing.

Garcia said other government agencies which would implement the subsidy program should also follow the guidelines.

“Likewise subject to the submission of the different departments that will be implementing the said program of the LTFRB for the DA, DSWD, and such other department have to specifically mention the beneficiaries on how and when project is implemented as well as documentation as to the compliance to the submission before of the implementation report of similar project,” he said.

LTFRB on Monday stopped the fuel distribution for PUV due to the public spending ban that is in effect from March 25 to May 8, 2022.

As of March 29, LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion said some 110,287 beneficiaries had already received their subsidies.

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 LTFRB in March started distributing P6,500 fuel subsidies to over 377,000 qualified PUV drivers and operators to help alleviate their misery due to the current Ukraine-Russia conflict, which has resulted in a series of fuel price hikes. —NB, GMA News