President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday unveiled a package of transport support measures to cushion commuters and public utility vehicle (PUV) operators from the impact of surging global oil prices, amid renewed tensions in the Middle East.

The decision to scrap the Revitalizing the Automotive Industry for Competitiveness Enhancement (RACE) program has drawn a measured response from Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. (TMP), the country’s largest vehicle assembler, which had been preparing for the initiative’s rollout as early as last year.

The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has called on the government to immediately carry out cloud seeding operations as dry conditions linked to a possible El Niño begin to affect crops.