Marcos: Bus operators get P10K fuel subsidy per bus unit

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday announced that the government is providing bus operators P10,000 fuel subsidy per bus unit to help them cope with the rising cost of fuel due to the Middle East conflict.

"Nandito ako para tiyakin na ‘yung aming ginagawa na fuel subsidy ay maayos kasi mag-start tayo today. Pero hindi lamang dito sa Metro Manila pero all over the country na ito," Marcos said in a speech at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City.

(I am here to make sure that the distribution of fuel subsidy is orderly because today is the start. This is not just in Metro Manila but also all over the country.)

"So, I’m making sure na ‘yung sistema ay maging maayos (that the system is orderly). So, we are now providing P10,000 subsidy for each bus unit," the president added.

Marcos said the P10,000 fuel subsidy may be given via digital wallet, ATM, check, or cash.

"Tapos ‘yung method of payment, lahat ng klaseng method of payment puwede. We can do it via digital payment or mga GCash. You can go to the ATM, may mga card naman na may hawak naman – may card naman ‘yung mga driver natin, at saka lahat ng operator nag-issue ng card, puwedeng gamitin ‘yun," he said.

(All modes of payment are possible. We can do it via digital payment like GCash. You can go to the ATM. Our drivers have cards issued by operators. These can be used.)

"Mayroon pa ring iilan na talagang gusto nila – ayaw nilang gawing digital. Puwede rin, puwedeng mag-issue ng cheque, at kung talagang kailangan, kahit cash puwede pa rin," Marcos added.

(Some however do not like digital [payments]. So we can issue a cheque, or if really needed, even cash.)

However, digital payment is easier, and more practical, he said.

Marcos also appealed to bus operators for their support and cooperation to ease commuters' hardship amid the present situation.

"So, tulungan ninyo naman kami para ‘yung mga ating riding public ay hindi masyadong mahirapan, unang-una, at hindi sila masyadong mabigatan sa pamasahe dahil nga alam naman natin kung ano ‘yung pangyayari – nagbabago ‘yung presyo ng langis all over the world," he said.

(So, help us so that our riding public will not be inconvenienced much, first of all, and will not be burdened with the fare because we know what is happening – fuel prices are going up all over the world.)

"Kaya ito ang response ng pamahalaan. (So this is the government's response.) And, of course, we are always in need of assistance and support and cooperation with the operators, with the drivers, ‘yung buong sistema (the whole system)," Marcos said.

"So, this is what we are doing here now. We are having the briefing now from DOTr [Department of Transportation] at tiningnan namin ang mga (and we will check the) facilities. So far mukha namang maayos (they seem orderly)," he added.

Marcos also asked the bus operators to let authorities know if there are problems or if they think the system can be improved and be made more convenient for them and the riding public.

"Kung mayroong maging problema o kung mayroong sa palagay ninyo maging mas magandang sistema o to make it easier, make it faster, make it more convenient for you, for the riding public, sabihan niyo kami. And kung palagay namin ay kaya naming gawin para pagandahin pa ang sistema, please tell us. Dahil ang gusto natin is very – as convenient as possible, as easy as possible, at as quick – ‘yung mabilis as possible," he said.

(If there are problems or if you think there is a better system to make it easier, make it faster, make it more convenient for you, for the riding public, let us know. And if we think we can do it to improve the system, please tell us. Because what we want is that it will be as convenient as possible, as easy as possible, as quick as possible.)

Marcos said he is confident that with cooperation between the private sector and government, the riding public would get the service they deserve.

Subsidy roll-out

In a press conference on Tuesday, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez announced that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) currently has P2.5 billion funding to be used to assist around 245,066 public transport drivers and operators nationwide.

“Baka po madagdagan 'yan, but definitely around that estimate. Ang makikinabang na PUV units of operators natin is more or less 1,180,783. This is a nationwide number,” he shared.

(The amount might even be bigger, but definitely around that estimate. More or less 1,180,783 PUV units of operators will benefit.)

Aside from bus drivers, further subsidies will be provided to other public transport vehicles, the DOTr said:

• Mini-bus operators: P9,000
• Mini-bus drivers: P5,000
• PUB operators: P10,000
• PUB drivers: P5,000
• School Transport operators: P5,000
• School Transport drivers: P5,000
• Taxi Operators: P2,000
• Taxi Drivers: P5,000
• Modern UVE operators: P10,000
• Modern UVE drivers: P5,000
• Traditional UVE operators: P5,000
• Traditional UVE drivers: P5,000
• Modern PUJ operators: P10,000
• Modern PUJ drivers: P1,500
• Traditional PUJ operators: P5,000
• Traditional PUJ drivers: P1,500
• FilCab operators: P5,000
• FilCab drivers: P1,500
• TNVS operators and drivers: P1,500

“Ang nakalagay na budget sa amin ang nakalaan po is P2.5 billion only, at kailangan namin na pagkasyahin lahat ng mga qualified drivers and operators na nakasaad sa aming budget… In this sense of urgency, kailangan namin ipatupad itong ating subsidiya para matulungan din ang ating [DSWD] Secretary [Rex] Gatchalian na nagpapatupad ngayon ng kanyang AICS {Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations] program. Sa panahon ng gobyerno, makakaasa na gagawa pa kami ng mga iba't ibang inisyatibo upang sa ganoon maibsan natin ang epekto ng kaguluhan sa Gitnang Silangan,” said Lopez.

(What is allotted in our budget is P2.5 billion only, and we need to make it accommodate all qualified drivers and operators that is noted in our budget… In this sense of urgency, we need to implement this subsidy to help our Secretary Gatchalian in implementing his AICS program. In this period of the government, you can expect that we will try to make more initiatives to lessen the effects of the conflict in the Middle East.)

DOTr’s subsidy follows days after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) distributed P5,000 cash aid for tricycle drivers in Metro Manila.

Lopez said that around P460 million has been distributed so far from the budget.

They are now also conducting a service contract for P1 billion to help increase funds for aid, but noted that this wouldn’t be enough should the crisis persist.

The agency is now speeding up their distribution process before the Holy Week and said that they are also looking into giving out free rides to help ease commuter burdens during peak travel periods. —KG, GMA Integrated News