Poe to DOTr: Release P3-B fuel subsidy to PUV drivers now

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other responsible agencies should immediately release the P3 billion subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers amid the continuous oil price hike, Senate public services committee chairperson Senator Grace Poe said Monday.

Poe issued the call in response to the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) announcement that a joint memorandum circular signed by concerned agencies should be released first before the department can release the fund for fuel subsidy lodged in the 2023 budget. 

Poe’s statement also came out the same day a taxi operators’ group renewed its appeal to increase the flag-down rate from P40 to P70 due to higher prices of petroleum products. 

“Inilatag na natin sa 2023 budget ang P3 billion fuel subsidy na hindi pa rin nagagamit kahit halos matatapos na ang taon. The DOTr must immediately issue the memorandum circulars and execute the memorandum of agreement necessary for the release of the long overdue fuel subsidy,” she said.

“We understand the plight of our drivers and operators amid the series of oil price hike. If we hike the fare, then it's the public who will be burdened by this. Would the public be able to pay for it when a fare hike was implemented just last year?” she added.

The senator said the DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board must look at other alternatives to help both the PUV sector and commuters.

“Since it is a provisional issue, maybe the government should also exhaust provisional remedies,” she said.

Poe also renewed her call to the Executive department to  suspend the excise tax on fuel and petroleum products until prices stabilize.

“I file it every Congress and will do so again in the future if necessary. Dapat pangunahing sandalan ng mga tsuper ang gobyerno tuwing may pagtaas sa presyo ng krudo sa pandaigdigang merkado,” Poe added.

(PUV drivers should be able to depend on the government's help amid oil price hike in the world market.)

House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan of 4PS party-list, for his part, said that the proposed P5.768 trillion budget should allot P7 billion in fuel subsidies for PUV drivers, fisherfolk and farmers

“Our public utility vehicle and ride-hailing drivers, along with delivery service riders, deserve highly improved financial support to help them cope with the persistent burden of high fuel prices. The fuel subsidies to public transport drivers should be enlarged to P5 billion, while the combined aid to fisherfolk and farmers should be increased to P2 billion,” Libanan said.

“We should give more cash to vulnerable households that tend to be more efficient in spending money compared with government agencies,” he added.

The proposed P5.768 trillion budget for 2024 has earmarked P2.5 billion for fuel subsidies for PUV operators and drivers and P1 billion for farmers. —LDF, GMA Integrated News