The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday accelerated the release of fuel vouchers after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) green lighted the release of P3 billion subsidy for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to cushion the impact of spiraling oil prices.
The subsidy covers PUVs, including jeepney, UV Express, mini bus, and bus drivers, shuttle service drivers, taxi drivers, tourist transport service drivers, school transport service drivers, ride-hailing service drivers, delivery service and tricycle drivers.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has ordered the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to immediately distribute the fuel assistance to PUV drivers once the funds are downloaded.
“Now that the funds have been approved by DBM, we make sure our PUV drivers get immediate assistance,” Bautista said.
A total 1.36 million beneficiaries will receive fuel assistance, according to the LTFRB.
Data from the LTFRB show 280,000 units will receive a one-time cash grant while 930,000 tricycle driver/operators and an estimated 150,000 delivery service riders will receive the assistance from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), respectively.
The transport regulator will distribute P10,000 to modern public utility jeepney (MPUJ) and modern UV express (MUVE) operators while operators of other modes of transport will receive P6,500.
Tricycle and delivery riders, on the other hand, are set to receive P1,000 and P1,200 assistance, respectively.
