LTFRB: 1st part of fuel subsidy distribution done by mid-May

A Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory (LTFRB) official said Saturday that the distribution of the P2.5-billion fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers and operators will be completed within the second week of May.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, LTFRB executive director Kristina Cassion said that so far 180,000 PUV sector beneficiaries out of the 264,000 supervised by the agency were credited with P6,500 fuel subsidy in their cash cards.

“We really wanted to fast-track this one… by the second week of May fully matapos na ito (this is fully distributed),” Cassion said.

According to Cassion, the first tranche of fuel subsidies need to be fully distributed prior to the release of the second tranche.

The government’s fuel subsidy program -- two tranches of P2.5 billion each -- aims to extend P6,500 cash grants to 377,000 beneficiaries, including LTFRB-supervised PUV drivers and operators, tricycle drivers and operators under the DILG, and delivery riders under the DTI.

Cassion earlier said that the LTFRB is still waiting for the list of qualified tricycle drivers and operators.

For delivery riders under the DTI, she said 27,777 beneficiaries are already being processed by the Landbank for the crediting of the fuel subsidy to their GCash or PayMaya accounts. —LBG, GMA News