LGUs roll out fuel subsidy in provinces
The streets of Kidapawan City in Cotabato province were almost emptied of passenger tricycles on Wednesday morning after their usual rounds of ferrying private and government workers to their respective offices.
There was no transport strike. But many of them gathered at the city gymnasium and queued to beat the deadline to submit filled-out forms for fuel subsidy to personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Within the day, some 3,000 tricycle drivers in the city, organized under the Federation of Kidapawan Integrated Tricycle Association, have completed the requirement.
According to the DSWD, the subsidy applications will undergo validation and within three days, the transport workers will be notified about their schedule to receive P5,000 in government aid.
The measure is highly awaited by transport workers throughout the country whose daily incomes are being squeezed by successive rounds of big-time fuel price hikes. Many are hoping the declaration on Tuesday by President Marcos of a state of national energy emergency could help expedite the process of distributing the aid.
While waiting for aid, many are demanding adjustments in passenger fares so they are able to cope with the volatile oil prices. In the meantime, local government units (LGUs) are stepping in.
Avoiding fare hike
In Albay, the local government of Ligao City began distributing on Wednesday P1,200 fuel subsidy to every 831 registered tricycle drivers.
Mayor Fernando Gonzalez said the assistance aims to prevent an increase in transport fares while helping drivers cope with higher fuel costs. “It is better to give a subsidy to address the concerns of both commuters and drivers, particularly with fare and fuel price increases,” he said.
Gonzalez said the subsidy would cover a month and might be adjusted depending on fuel price movements. “If there is a further increase, we will add a P100 subsidy for every P10 increase in fuel cost,” he said.
Gonzalez said the program would be sustained as long as funds are available.
In Quezon, some 6,000 tricycle drivers have received P1,000 in fuel coupons, while more than 200 jeepney drivers have received P6,000 in fuel assistance. The distribution began last week.
Lucena City Mayor Mark Alcala said even small forms of assistance can help residents cope with the crisis. He urged drivers to remain resilient and reminded them to charge only the lawful fares and treat passengers with respect. “The passengers are your source of livelihood. Respect them,” the mayor said.
Jeepney driver Ramon Fernan said most of their passengers understand the impact of the crisis on the public transport sector. “Most of them voluntarily pay their fare with an extra,” Fernan said.
Condition
In Eastern Samar, the city government of Borongan is set to roll out fuel subsidies after the Holy Week for 1,908 tricycle drivers, who will be provided coupons that they will use to pay at partner gas stations.
The subsidy, however, comes with a key condition that current fares must not increase, Mayor Jose Ivan Agda said.
He said that allowing fare hikes at this time would only worsen the situation for residents, noting that higher transport costs could further limit mobility and slow economic activity in the city. —REPORTS FROM WILLIAMOR MAGBANUA, DELFIN MALLARI JR., MICHAEL JAUCIAN AND JOEY GABIETA
