Lawmaker calls for P7-B in fuel subsidies for PUV drivers, others

A lawmaker has called for an increase in fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, fisherfolk, and farmers.

Office of House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan said that the abovementioned sectors “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,” the 4Ps party-list representative explained.

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

In the 2024 National Expenditure Program, the government plans to spend another P3.5 billion in fuel subsidies.

The P3.5 billion, Libanan revealed is broken down into P2.5 billion for public transport drivers coursed through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) plus P1 billion for fisherfolk and corn farmers coursed through the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The DOTr earlier said that it plans to release by the end of August the fuel subsidies to PUV drivers that are being funded by this year’s national budget.

Modern jeepney and UV Express drivers are expected to receive P10,000 each while drivers of other modes of public transport would receive P6,500.

Delivery riders and tricycle drivers would receive P1,200 and P1,000, respectively.

Photos from Cong. Nonoy Libanan Facebook page

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