The fuel subsidy for jeepney drivers who have been complaining about the recent increase in the price of petroleum products began on Wednesday.
Under the government’s new fuel subsidy program, 136,000 units of public utility jeepneys will receive P7,200 each.
According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), 73,000 of the beneficiaries have already received the amount through their Pantawid Pasada Program card.
The LTFRB also stressed that the subsidy could only be used at the following petrol stations: Petron, Shell, Seaoil, Total, Ketti Petroleum, Rephil, Caltex, Petro Gazz, and Unioil.
He said the amount could not be withdrawn for anything other than fuel.
Meanwhile, the LTFRB expressed support for the idea of having assistance programs for drivers of other public vehicles.
The transport group Piston said none of their members had received the said aid.
For Piston National President Mody Floranda, the number of beneficiaries is too small.
For Floranda, the price of petroleum products should be lowered by removing the value-added tax and excise tax imposed due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law.
The government redistributed the fuel subsidy after ten consecutive weeks of oil price hikes.
Due to the series of oil price hikes, transport groups have also filed a petition to raise the current P9 minimum fare for jeeps to P12.
Some hospitals had days without COVID-19 admission
Some hospitals are already recording zero COVID-19 patient admission days and a decrease in the number of falls ill.
Dr. Alfonso Famaran Jr., medical chief at the Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial (Tala) Hospital and Sanitarium in Caloocan, said there are days now that no COVID-19 patient is admitted while there was only one admission.
The situation is similar in St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig, with 11 COVID-19 patients.
In the Quezon City branch of the hospital, nine are in the COVID-19 ward, and there are no patients in the intensive care unit.
Last week, for the first time, the rural health unit of Kawit reported that no active cases were recorded in the town.
Hospitals are still open in case a COVID-19 patient arrives, but the number of beds available has been reduced.
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