The Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will roll out the national government’s ₱2.95 billion worth of fuel subsidy to all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers.
In a statement, DOTr said the initiative will help PUV operators and drivers, including tricycle drivers and delivery drivers, amidst the increasing prices of fuel.
“We will make sure that the assistance to our PUV drivers will be distributed immediately so they can use it, pay for their fuel, and improve their daily income,” Bautista said.
DOTr said the fuel subsidy will benefit a total of 1,640,000 million PUV operators and drivers.
Of this number, 280,000 are PUV drivers who will receive the one-time cash drive assistance directly from the LTFRB.
At least 930,000 tricycle drivers and 150,000 delivery riders will receive cash assistance directly from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), respectively.
Also set to receive cash assistance are Modern Public Utility Jeepney (MPUJ), Modern UV Express (MUVE) drivers, and other modes of transport drivers.
In terms of the amount, DOTr said the tricycle drivers will take home ₱1,000 each while delivery drivers with ₱1,200 each.
Last week, oil companies announced a major pump price hike, ranging from ₱3.70 to ₱3.90 per liter, effective on Tuesday, August 8.
Based on the latest oil price monitoring of the Department of Energy as of August 2, these adjustments have led to a year-to-date net increase of ₱11 per liter for gasoline and ₱3.10 per liter for diesel.