Distribution of ₱3-B fuel subsidy eyed to begin this week – LTFRB

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) — The ₱3 billion worth of fuel subsidies for transportation workers affected by surging oil prices may be distributed "possibly" in two days, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Monday.

On Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista reportedly saying that the fuel subsidy will be distributed "within the next 2 days” or Friday at the latest, LTFRB Technical Division head Joel Bolano commented, “Yes, that is possible.”

Once the DOTr downloads the funds to the LTFRB, Bolano said there will be an initial implementation of the distribution a day later.

“Pero ang initial implementation ay sa mga PUVs muna dahil nasa LTFRB na ang database nila,” he said.

[Translation: But the initial implementation will be with the PUVs first because their database is already in the LTFRB.]

On Friday, the Department of Budget and Management greenlit the release of ₱3 billion in fuel subsidies for around 1.36 million public utility vehicle drivers and operators affected by the nine weeks of consecutive fuel price increases.

Drivers of modern jeepneys and UV Express vans are expected to receive ₱10,000 each, while drivers of other modes of transport will get ₱6,500. Tricycle and delivery riders, on the other hand, will be given ₱1,000 and ₱1,200, respectively.