Solons hail Comelec’s OK on fuel subsidies, say it’s not election campaign spending

TACLOBAN CITY — Some lawmakers expressed elation on Thursday at the Commission on Elections' decision to allow the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to continue the distribution of the fuel subsidy for mass transport vehicles’ drivers and operators.

House committee on transportation chairman Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento thanked the poll body for its decision, noting that it will provide great relief to drivers and operators nationwide who have been affected by the series of fuel price increases.

“We are very happy that the Comelec has finally given the go signal for the LTFRB to resume the distribution of the fuel subsidy. This is definitely not enough to ease the burden of our drivers and operators because the cost of fuel remains very prohibitive, but at least this fuel subsidy is a reminder that the government is doing everything to help them,” he said in a press release.

“Thank you, Comelec for understanding the situation of our public, the transport sector,” Sarmiento added.

The aid distribution was stopped pending Comelec’s position on LTFRB’s request for exemption from the prevailing ban on cash disbursement amid the election season. 

For his part, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said the release of funds to beneficiaries “should not be considered as election campaign spending.”

He stressed that the distribution of the subsidy should not be linked to politics.

“It is a government agency that is giving the money to PUV drivers. The LTFRB should not allow any politician to meddle or be associated with the distribution. The process should be devoid of politics,” Rodriguez said.

The House leader emphasized that the funds are intended to help those in the public transportation sector who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the difficulties have been aggravated by the increasing fuel prices due to the tension between Russia and Ukraine.

Rodriguez said a number of his constituents in Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao are yet to receive their financial assistance.

“The Comelec should not wait for more increases in the pump prices of diesel, gasoline and other oil products before approving LTFRB’s application for an exemption from the spending ban,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate was also elated with the Comelec’s decision, however, he also asked the poll body to hasten the go signal for the distribution of assistance to other sectors, including the agriculture.

"This ayuda is long overdue and people expect the poll body to act with dispatch and not to repeat the callous dilly-dallying of the DBM (Department of Budget and Management), DOTr (Department of Transportation) and DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government),” he said.

"For as long as the Duterte administration has not called for a special session of Congress to suspend the excise tax on oil, Comelec should exempt from the election ban aid to be given to the agricultural and transport sector as well as the poorest Filipinos,” he added.

Zarate also echoed Rodriguez’s remark, saying that the aid should not be considered as election campaign spending, “but these should still be monitored strictly as these may be used for partisan purposes.” — BM, GMA News