LTFRB OKs 141k passenger jeepneys, UV Express units for P10 fuel discount

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved 141,724 units of passenger jeepneys and UV Express for the government’s P10 per liter discount subsidy.

In a statement on Monday, LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said this figure covers all regions and was based on their database of qualified beneficiaries.

He added that 12,688 of the qualified beneficiaries have registered successful transactions so far.

“This is proof that the government is still really taking care of the PUV sector despite the improvement of the prices of petroleum products,” Mendoza said.

The program will initially cover public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and UV Express drivers and operators. It will be later expanded to cover other public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“This will not only benefit the drivers and operators but also the commuters as well,” he added.

The LTFRB chair earlier vowed to monitor and conduct immediate intervention to ensure the smooth implementation of the P10 per liter discount subsidy after it was made available to passenger jeepneys and UV Express drivers and operators nationwide.

The fuel discount subsidy was originally launched in select gasoline stations in Metro Manila in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE).

Mendoza said the program is already being implemented nationwide, as the participating gasoline stations has grown to 4,299 across the country from the initial 50 gasoline stations in the National Capital Region.

So far, the national government has already paid over P13.3 million in discount subsidies.

READ: Marcos okays P10-per-liter fuel subsidy for PUVs

Aside from the discount, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also approved the P5,000 fuel subsidy for PUV drivers and operators, as well as a service contracting program to maximize the assistance to the commuters.

Mendoza assured that the P10 per liter discount will be properly implemented nationwide through monitoring and active response in cases of glitches.

Based on the approved guidelines, participating gas stations will be connected to the government’s database through a mobile app that will list the qualified beneficiaries.

Only PUVs with existing and valid franchises will be included in the database for a 150-liter ceiling every week for each of the PUV units.

Once the license plate is confirmed to be enrolled in the program, the discount will automatically apply – which means that the driver will just pay the discounted price.

The LTFRB shall maintain custody and control of the budget and shall allocate and transfer the necessary funds to the Land Bank of the Philippines for the administration, processing, settlement, and crediting of fuel subsidy amounts to accredited gasoline stations participating in the Fuel Discount System. — JMA, GMA News