BY CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Fuel Subsidy Ordinance lapsed into a local law and is subject to implementation after Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez neither signed its approval or vetoed it, 10 days since the Mayor’s Office received the approved ordinance from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Em Ang covers all tricycles-for-hire with existing and valid franchise issued by the City Government of Bacolod.
It said Bacolod City has a total of 5,610 tricycle-for-hire with existing franchise comprising of 76 tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA).
The national government through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has provided fuel subsidy to drivers but tricycle drivers, who are also utilizing fuel in their livelihood, have not received such benefit, the ordinance said.
It is imperative for the City Government of Bacolod to also provide fuel subsidy to the more than 5,000 members of the Bacolod City Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association as a measure of relief in view of the unprecedented increase of gasoline prices in the country, it said.
The Bacolod Permits and Licensing Office will submit to the City Administrator’s Office an official list of tricycles for hire with existing valid franchise issued by the City Government of Bacolod who are qualified to receive fuel subsidy, the ordinance said.
It will also monitor to ensure that the fuel subsidy will be solely utilized in favor of the qualified beneficiaries, it said.
The City Administrator’s Office will cause the enrollment of qualified beneficiaries to receive the fuel subsidy, the ordinance said.
The funding of the initial implementation of the program will be taken fr.om the available funds of the Office of the Mayor or from any available funds of the city subject to existing auditing and accounting rules and regulations, it added.*
