A House leader and two senators welcomed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to allow the distribution of P6,500 financial assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodrigez is one of those who appealed to provide the drivers with the said financial aid despite on the campaign season.

According to Rodriguez the release of the funds by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to the intended beneficiaries should not be considered as election campaign spending.

“It is a government agency that is giving the money to PUV drivers. The LTFRB should not allow any politician to meddle or be associated with the distribution. The process should be devoid of politics,” he said.

He said the funds are intended to help those in the public transportation sector cope with difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

These difficulties have been aggravated by soaring fuel prices brought about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he added.

Based on the LTFRB data, as of April 5 when the distribution was stopped, only 110,200 out of the over 377,000 intended beneficiaries have received their ayuda.

Rodriguez said many of his constituents in Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao still have to be given their financial assistance.

“The Comelec should not wait for more increases in the pump prices of diesel, gasoline and other oil products before approving LTFRB’s application for an exemption from the spending ban,” he said.

He said such spikes would effectively decrease the value of the financial assistance that PUV drivers would receive.

Meanwhile, Senators Grace Poe and Panfilo Lacson hailed the Comelec decision.

“Way to go and kudos to Comelec for acting expeditiously on such a no-brainer issue involving fuel subsidy grant under the 2022 special provision under the budget,” Senator Panfilo Lacson said.

Lacson, earlier argued that social services and financial assistance from the national government should not be covered by the election spending ban.

For her part, Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said the decision to exempt the fuel subsidy is a timely response.

“The order to allow the resumption of fuel subsidy distribution to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators is a timely response by the Commission on Elections,” she said.

Poe maintained that the government should speed up the distribution of the aid using digital platforms.

“We urge the government to speed up efforts on the use of digital payments through financial service providers like e-wallets for a more efficient aid distribution during a crisis,” she said.

Poe suggested the use of the National ID System to make it easier to identify and verify the data of the beneficiaries.

“Help is most effective when it reaches our people in their time of need,” she stressed. By Jester Manalastas and Marlon Purificacion