PUV drivers to get P5,000 fuel subsidy

March 12 ------ PUBLIC utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in Metro Manila will receive a P5,000 fuel subsidy from the government beginning Tuesday, March 17, the Palace announced on Wednesday as authorities moved to cushion the impact of a sharp rise in oil prices triggered by war in the Middle East. The subsidy will be implemented across the country shortly after that, officials said.

The announcement was made after Executive Secretary Ralph Recto met with Metro Manila mayors and the heads of various departments and agencies. “As mayors, you are the ones who know best the real situation and the number of tricycle and jeepney drivers in your cities,” Recto said in Filipino. “That is why our cooperation is important. With good coordination and simultaneous action, we can deliver assistance faster to every driver in need.” San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who was at the Palace meeting, said another round of cash aid would be distributed if the crisis persists.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has been coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and local government units for the rollout of the subsidy. Lopez said tricycle drivers in Metro Manila would be the first to receive the assistance, followed by drivers of jeepneys, taxis, transport network vehicle service units, and buses.

The DOTr and DSWD are also working with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Department of Information and Communications Technology, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to validate the list of beneficiaries.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said drivers in the provinces would also receive assistance once the program is rolled out in Metro Manila. “We will just kick it off in Metro Manila, but the payouts will quickly follow in other areas. One after the other, these will happen because the DSWD has nationwide offices that can conduct simultaneous payouts,” Gatchalian said. The cash aid, amounting to P5,000 per beneficiary, will be released under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program, which has a budget of P62 billion. Gatchalian said at this point, they consider public utility drivers to be individuals in crisis situations because their jobs have been affected.

Meanwhile, Lopez said he had also spoken with toll operators about granting discounts to Class 3 vehicles, such as buses and trucks, to help reduce operating costs amid the continued rise in diesel and gasoline prices. He said the proposed discounts could allow bus operators to save between P5 and P7 per liter, which could translate to about P7,000 in savings for every 100 liters of fuel consumed. “These are some of the noncash interventions and other measures being implemented by the national government,” the transport chief said.

Lopez also confirmed that fare increases for some public transportation modes are being considered to help drivers and operators cope with higher fuel costs. However, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is still studying how much the increase would be. He said LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II was expected to complete the review of fare hike petitions within the week. “I told the LTFRB to carefully study their initial recommendation because we have to treat this very carefully and with an abundance of caution. Instead of helping the majority, we might end up worsening the situation,” Lopez said.

The DOTr is also studying, together with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, the possible reduction of aircraft landing and takeoff fees ahead of Holy Week, when a surge of passengers traveling to the provinces is expected. The Palace also announced on Wednesday that the president has asked local chief executives nationwide to use their Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) to ease the burden on vulnerable sectors affected by the war in the Middle East.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos issued the call as part of the national government’s efforts to cushion the possible economic and social impact of the crisis, particularly on families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). “Under the instruction, local government units (LGUs) may use the LGSF to assist communities affected by international crises, including families of OFWs impacted by the Middle East conflict, through financial aid, social services, and emergency response programs,” the PCO said. The LGSF is a national government fund transferred to provinces, cities, municipalities, and barangays to finance priority development programs and urgent local needs.

In the 2026 national budget, the LGSF allocation was about P57.88 billion to support projects and programs of LGUs nationwide. The fund provides financial assistance and flexibility, enabling local governments to implement programs that address local economic and social concerns. While the LGSF is usually used for development projects, LGUs may redirect or prioritize programs to help OFWs and their families affected by overseas conflicts. Among the possible assistance programs are emergency financial aid for returning OFWs, financial support for families whose income was disrupted, and subsidies for displaced workers.

Metro Manila mayors, including Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso of Manila and Zamora of San Juan, joined Lopez and Gatchalian in a press conference in Malacañang on Wednesday to discuss the government’s preparations. Domagoso thanked the president for increasing the LGSF allocation, saying the move would help local governments respond quickly to the needs of affected families. Also present at the briefing were the mayors of Pasay, Las Piñas, Mandaluyong, Valenzuela, Pateros, and Malabon.

Marcos earlier announced several government measures to alleviate the impact of the expected surge in fuel prices triggered by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, including possible tax adjustments on petroleum products, fuel subsidies, and energy-saving steps across government offices.

Source: manilatimes.net