The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is expediting the release of fuel vouchers after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the allocation of P3 billion in funds for subsidies to support public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and mitigate the impact of rising oil prices.
The fuel subsidy covers various PUV categories, including jeepney, UV Express, mini-bus, and bus drivers, shuttle service drivers, taxi drivers, tourist transport service drivers, school transport service drivers, ride-hailing service drivers, delivery service drivers, and tricycle drivers. I Photo: Andrew G. Contreras / The Financial District
Under Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2, the fuel subsidy covers various PUV categories, including jeepney, UV Express, mini-bus, and bus drivers, shuttle service drivers, taxi drivers, tourist transport service drivers, school transport service drivers, ride-hailing service drivers, delivery service drivers, and tricycle drivers.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to promptly distribute the fuel assistance to PUV drivers once the funds have been transferred to the agency.
"Now that the funds have been approved by the DBM, we will ensure that our PUV drivers receive immediate assistance," Secretary Bautista stated.
According to the LTFRB, a total of 1,360,000 beneficiaries will receive fuel assistance. Data from the LTFRB indicates that 280,000 units will receive a one-time cash grant from the agency.
Additionally, 930,000 tricycle driver/operators and an estimated 150,000 delivery service riders will receive assistance from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), respectively.
The transport regulator will provide P10,000 to Modern Public Utility Jeepney (MPUJ) and Modern UV Express (MUVE) operators. Operators of other modes of transport will receive P6,500.
Tricycle and delivery riders, on the other hand, are set to receive assistance of P1,000 and P1,200, respectively.
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