ILOILO City – The fuel subsidy for public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in Western Visayas and the rest of the country has been paused due to the election public spending ban.
According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6, authorization from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is needed.
LTFRB-6 Legal Officer IV Salvador Altura Jr., however, said their central office already filed an appeal for exemption with the Comelec.
The release – through Land Bank of the Philippines – of the one-time fuel subsidy of P6,500 for each driver via a subsidy card started on March 11.
It was designed to help them cope with the weekly increases in the price of fuel.
Then March 25 came – the start of the campaign period for local election candidates.
“Naabtan sia sang banning pero naka-file na ang central office for exemption. Ang ginahulat na lang naton is the positive resolution of that request,” Altura told Panay News.
Under Section 2 of Comelec Resolution No. 10747, no public official or employee, including barangay officials, and those of government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries, shall release, disburse, or expend any public funds from May 25, 2022 until May 8, 2022.
Comelec may release its ruling on the matter tomorrow, he added.
Altura expressed confidence that LTFRB would be able to secure a favorable outcome.
“Ang fuel subsidy is a government project. Dapat this government project should not be covered by a ban. Gusto naton ma-release kay naluoy kita sa mga drivers ta,” he added.
The government allotted P2.5 billion for the fuel subsidy program, also called “Pantawid Pasada.” Its target recipients nationwide are 377,000 PUV drivers and operators.
As of April 4, an estimated 110,000 drivers and operators nationwide have already received P6,500 each.
In Region 6, more than 5,000 have already received theirs.
“Sa aton mga drivers and operators nga naga-hawat-hawat sang ila pag-withdraw sang fuel subsidy, gamay na lang nga panahon, gamay na lang nga pasensya,” said Altura.
Under Comelec Resolution No. 10747, a certificate of exemption is needed to implement activities and programs on social welfare projects and services during the election campaign pried./PN
