Gov’t to continue fuel subsidies to transport groups

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

To give some relief to transport groups reeling from high oil prices, President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday announced a number of measures that include continuing with subsidies and fuel discounts for jeepney and tricycle operators.

The President said he was ready to impose price controls, if necessary.

Mr. Aquino also issued a stern and “last’’ warning to “colorum” bus operators to stop operating or their buses will be impounded.

Speaking to reporters after attending the 25th anniversary of the Philippine Information Agency Wednesday, Mr. Aquino said the Department of Energy told him that crude prices have gone up but “not as worse’’ as last year.

He said the government was targeting its buffer supply to last 30 days from the previous 24-and-a-half days.

The President said he was planning to seek a dialog with transport groups but only to report to them what has happened to the agreements firmed up during their first meeting in September last year, including the groups’ concern about the continued operation of “colorum’’ buses in their routes.

He said he was announcing a “last warning” to colorum bus operators.

“I have asked authorities to look for all of you (colorum operators) and your buses to be impounded so that traffic can be eased and so that there will be not much competition which has made life difficult for the transport sector. Let’s follow what is right, in accordance with the law,” Mr. Aquino said.

The President said the government would also update the transport leaders on their concern against traffic enforcers and policemen extorting money from public transport drivers.

Mr. Aquino said the government would continue the “Pantawid Pasada” program under which jeepney and tricycle operators with franchises get subsidies or fuel discounts.

He said there was no need for additional funding for the program as the government still has P200 million left from the earlier round of fuel discounts.

He said the government still has funds left because the program only covered 100,000 tricycle and jeepney drivers from the targeted 300,000.

Mr. Aquino also said that he has asked for a mechanism to be established where manufacturers of spare parts and even those selling fuel would sell to transport groups directly.