• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government has expressed its support to the proposal of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board – Negros Island Region (LTFRB-NIR) to augment the fuel subsidy provided by the national government for public utility vehicle drivers in the province.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said he will present the one-time fuel subsidy proposal of LTFRB-NIR chief Atty. Gerry Llena to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, for his approval, and for its budget.
However, the LTFRB budget for the subsidy is not yet clear, along with the share of local government units, Diaz said.
Llena, accompanied by Board Member Marxlen dela Cruz, who is the chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on Finance, met with Diaz on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, which he also shared on Tuesday with Negros Oriental local chief executives, during a meeting in Dumaguete City.
The LTFRB-NIR head thanked Governor Lacson and Atty. Diaz for being receptive to the proposal.
If approved by Lacson, Llena said he will coordinate with Diaz in crafting the guidelines on how to systematize the distribution of fuel subsidy augmentation.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez announced on Wednesday that PUV drivers will start receiving P5,000 in fuel subsidy starting next week, as the government moves to cushion the impact of rising oil prices triggered by tensions in the Middle East.
The subsidy will initially be distributed in Metro Manila starting Tuesday next week, with tricycle drivers under local government jurisdiction prioritized, followed by jeepney operators and drivers, and other transport sectors, according to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.
The assistance will be released through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) using its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the subsidy rollout will be conducted simultaneously in Metro Manila, to be followed by other regions nationwide.
Gatchalian said the DSWD has earmarked P30 billion from the AICS budget to ensure sustained assistance if the global oil crisis continues.
Meanwhile, Diaz said the Capitol subsidy would cover various PUV classifications, from jeepneys to tricycles.
We will augment whatever assistance is given by the 31 LGUs in the province, he added.*
