Marcos admin to continue fuel subsidies for public transport drivers

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 5) — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. announced on Tuesday that his administration will continue providing fuel subsidies for the public transport sector to help soften the blow of rising oil prices.

In a press briefing after holding his first Cabinet meeting, Marcos said there is sufficient budget to extend the subsidy program which the previous administration started to implement in March.

“We have enough budget, I think, to last for most of this—for this year and a little bit beyond. But we still have to find that money if we’re going to continue,” he said.

Marcos assured that tricycle drivers will be among the beneficiaries.

After lengthy delays, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported last month that over 600,000 tricycle drivers nationwide are qualified to get a fuel subsidy, although it is still not certain when they can receive the aid. The DILG had attributed the delays to local governments’ failure to submit a validated list of eligible beneficiaries in their area.

The DILG also earlier said tricycle drivers will only get ₱1,000 each, as opposed to the ₱6,500 given to jeepney drivers.

The government explained the lower amount is because tricycles consume less fuel compared to other vehicles such as jeepneys and buses. The ₱1,000, however, is now not enough to fill up two tanks of a tricycle with a seven-litre capacity.

Last week, Marcos also extended the free EDSA Bus Carousel rides which the Duterte administration began, as well as approved free rides for students in select train lines beginning August.