After the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the money for the program, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Thursday that it would begin distributing gasoline subsidies to public utility vehicles (PUV) drivers and operators next week.
“We confirm that the funds have already been released by the DBM, and the LTFRB will start distributing next week,” Tina Cassion, the LTFRB’s executive director, informed reporters in a Viber group message.
Undersecretary Tina Rose Canda, the DBM’s budget officer-in-charge, stated that the DBM has already disbursed P2.5 billion and P500 million in gasoline subsidies for the public transportation and farm sectors, respectively.
The DOTr’s Gasoline Subsidy Program would get P2.5 billion in the 2022 budget, with the goal of providing fuel coupons worth P6,500 to approximately 377,000 qualifying PUV drivers who operate jeepneys, UV express, taxis, tricycles, and other full-time ride-hailing and delivery services countrywide.
The DA, on the other hand, has set aside P500 million to provide gasoline discounts to farmers and fishers who own and operate agricultural and fishing machinery individually or through a farmers group or cooperative.
Also read: SWS: 45% of Pinoys believe quality of life will improve in 2022
PUV drivers to get P6,500 fuel subsidy next week – LTFRB
Cassion said the LTFRB and the Land Bank of the Philippines would meet on Friday to determine when the P6,500 fuel subsidies will be distributed in the coming week.
The budget is part of the DBM’s first tranche of gasoline subsidies, following the National Economic and Development Authority’s (NEDA) proposal to increase money for the fuel voucher program in response to the ongoing rise in petroleum prices caused by the Ukraine-Russia war.
Meanwhile, the national Social Weather Survey of December 12-16, 2021 found 45% of adult Filipinos saying their quality-of-life will improve (termed by SWS as “Optimists”), 42% saying it will stay the same (“No Change”), and 3% saying it will worsen (“Pessimists”), in the next 12 months. The remaining 9% did not give an answer.
The resulting Net Personal Optimism score is +42 (% Optimists minus % Pessimists), classified by SWS as excellent (+40 and up).
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