The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday announced that the fuel subsidy program benefiting public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, tricycle operators, and delivery service riders should be completed by the second quarter this year. The initiative aims to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices on over one million workers in the transportation sector.
Transportation Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand Ortega confirmed that apart from PUV drivers under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the one-time cash grant will also cover tricycle drivers and delivery riders. The program’s rollout is being carried out through partnerships with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for tricycles and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for delivery service workers.
With a total of 1,026,306 beneficiaries, the program will provide varying amounts of fuel assistance depending on the type of service provided. Modern Public Utility Jeepney (MPUJ) and Modern UV Express (MUVE) drivers will receive P10,500, while drivers of Traditional Jeeps, Traditional UV Express, Minibuses, Public Utility Buses, and Filcabs are eligible for P5,000. Drivers of Tourist Transport Services, Shuttle Services, School Transport, TNVS, and Taxis will be granted P4,500. Tricycle drivers are set to receive P1,100, while delivery riders will get P2,500.
The financial assistance is expected to provide significant economic relief to key workers in the transportation sector, bolstering the sustainability of public transport services and ensuring continued access to affordable transportation options for commuters. The DOTr emphasized that the distribution of subsidies is currently underway, with verification of beneficiary details set to wrap up in the coming months.
