P2.5B in fresh aid set for public transport drivers assured
MAKATI City Rep. Luis Campos Jr., vice chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, has assured public transport drivers that they will receive P2.5 billion in government financial aid this year to cushion them from high fuel prices.
“Congress earmarked the sum of P2.5 billion in the 2024 national budget specifically for the direct fuel subsidies to public utility vehicle drivers, including tricycle, ride-hailing, and delivery service drivers,” Campos said on Tuesday.
“On top of the amount for the transport sector, we also allocated another P510 million in financial assistance to provide relief to small farmers who use fuel to drive their agricultural machinery,” Campos said.
“We are determined to sustain the annual funding for the subsidies to vulnerable sectors, so long as the Dubai crude oil price based on Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) has reached $80 per barrel,” Campos said.
Last year, modern jeepney and UV Express drivers received P10,000 each and drivers of other modes of public transport received P6,500 each in subsidies.
Delivery riders received P1,200 each and tricycle drivers received P1,000 each.
Meanwhile, farmers received P3,000 each.
In the 2024 budget law, driver-beneficiaries must be identified and validated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
Farmer-beneficiaries must be listed in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture.
Year-to-date, as of April 2, gasoline and diesel pump prices per liter have increased by P8.20 and P4.50, respectively, according to the Department of Energy.
