Marcos orders release of P5K fuel subsidy for public transport drivers

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. ordered the immediate distribution of P5,000 fuel subsidy for public transport drivers affected by the oil price hike due to the tension in the Middle East.

This was according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto who had a meeting with Metro Manila mayors on Wednesday to ensure the fast distribution of the subsidy. The fuel subsidy will be released next week. 

“Bilang mayors, kayo ang higit na nakakaalam sa tunay na sitwasyon at bilang ng mga tricycle at jeepney drivers sa inyong mga lungsod. Kaya mahalaga ang ating pagtutulungan. Sa mabuting koordinasyon at sabayang pagkilos, mas mabilis nating maipaparating ang tulong sa bawat driver na nangangailangan,” Recto said.

(As mayors, you know the situation and the number of tricycle and jeepney drivers in your areas. Our coordination is very important. Through our collective action, we can immediately extend assistance to our drivers.) 

''Sa pakikipagtulungan sa mga mayors, mas mabilis nating maipaparating ang tulong sa bawat driver na nangangailangan,” he added.

(Through coordination with our mayors, we can ensure that we can easily deliver assistance to our drivers.) 

At a separate Palace briefing, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the rollout would start in the National Capital Region. Aside from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will also assist in the rollout. 

''Uunahin po natin ang mga tricycle drivers under the jurisdiction of the respective LGUs tapos susunod-sunod na rin po natin iyong mga jeepney operators,'' he said.

(We will prioritize the tricycle drivers then after that the jeepney operators.) 

Lopez assured the public that drivers of TNVS (Transportation Network Vehicle Services) and other transport groups would also receive cash assistance.

''May master list naman po ang LTFRB at ang DOTr at dito po papasok 'yung tinatawag naming fuel subsidy. That will be triggered only, sa tingin namin, the moment that we have certification from Department of Energy... malamang 'yan masisimulan namin sa unang linggo ng Abril,'' he said. 

According to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the cash assistance will be rolled out first in NCR, and its launch in other regions will come after. 

''Ikikick-off lang natin sa Metro Manila pero sunod-sunod na ho 'yan, hindi 'yan magtatagal. One after the other mangyayari ho 'yan,'' Gatchalian said. 

(These will be kicked off in Metro Manila and after that, we will launch it in other regions.) 

The Metro Manila Council said they have already prepared a list of tricycle drivers from TODAs all over the region to be submitted to the DSWD within the day.

MMC president and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora shared that the program will be extended to other members of the transport sector in the coming days.

“Ito po ay malaking tulong po talaga sa amin sapagka’t kami pong mga mayors ay hinahanapan rin po ng mga hakbang ng aming mga mamamayan, lalong lalo na 'yung mga apektadong drivers po natin, at hindi lamang po ito para sa tricycle drivers, ganon din sa jeepney drivers, sa TNVS drivers, sa UV Express drivers, sa bus drivers… Lahat po ng drivers pagdating sa public transport sector ay tutulungan po ng ating pamahalaang nasyonal,” he said.

(This is a big help for us because we mayors are being asked for solutions by our constituents, especially our affected drivers, and this is not just for tricycle drivers but also jeepney drivers, TNVS drivers, UV Express drivers, bus drivers… All drivers in our public transport sector will be assisted by our national government.)

He noted that payouts are set to begin next Tuesday in Metro Manila and other regions will follow soon after.

“Lalawak pa 'tong programang. Aabot na 'to sa mga rider, TNVS, buses. We will have respective tranches in terms of days lang naman kung sino mauuna,” added Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno.

(This program will expand. It will reach our riders, TNVS, buses. We will have respective tranches in terms of days on who would be the first to receive it.) —with a report from Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News