The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said the national government has set aside P4 billon as fuel assistance to transport workers and farmers this year.
In a statement, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said the government will spend P3 billion to fund the fuel vouchers for the transport sector and another P1 billion as fuel assistance to farmers and fisherfolk.
“As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this administration will continue providing fuel subsidies to our kababayan, especially in the most vulnerable sectors — public transport and agriculture,” Pangandaman said.
The funds are charged against the regular budgets of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The appropriated budget for the fuel vouchers program will be distributed to qualified public utility vehicle (PUV), taxi, tricycle, and full-time ride-hailing and delivery services drivers nationwide, she said.
Pangandaman said the P3 billion allotment is also P500 million higher than the P2.5 billion in the 2022 budget’s fuel subsidy program.
The fuel vouchers aim to cushion the impact of high oil prices on thousands of PUV drivers, the DBM chief said.
Its implementation is subject to guidelines issued by the DOTr, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the DBM. Beneficiaries will be validated and identified by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Meanwhile, the P1 billion appropriation for fuel assistance will be given to farmers and fisherfolk.
The fuel subsidy will benefit more than 312,000 farmers and fisherfolk at P3,000 per beneficiary to ensure unimpeded agricultural production and fishing operations.
“We are banking on our transport and agriculture sector to boost economic recovery. And so we need to provide them the help and boost they need,” Pangandaman said.
