A TOTAL of 107,926 fuel subsidy cards has been distributed to the public transport operators and drivers as of Friday, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said in a House committee hearing Monday.
The released cards comprise less than half of the 264,443 target, which the agency aims to complete by the end of March.
“We just received the budget from DBM (Department of Budget) Friday March 11. On March 14 we were able to open from DoTr (Department of Transportation),” LTFRB Regional Director Russet M. Tamayo said in Filipino in a live-streamed hearing.
Each beneficiary for this new round of subsidy will get P6,500 worth of fuel, including jeepneys, buses, UV express, taxi, shuttle, tourist transport, app-based transport network vehicle service, motorcycle taxis, and delivery services.
However, House Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Ferdinand R. Gaite along with transport organizations raised the need for LTFRB to update its records as some subsidy cards are still designated to previously registered owners of vehicles instead of the current one.
Meanwhile, LFTRB Chairman Martin B. Delgra III said he will meet with House Minority Leader and Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Stephen S. Paduano, Bacolod Rep. Greg G. Gasataya and the agency’s regional director to discuss the ongoing drivers’ strike in Bacolod City.
“After this, we will get in touch with the regional director in Region 6 (Western Visayas) to verify the report and also to get in touch with Congressman Gasataya on the way forward to address it,” Mr. Delgra said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan