MORE GROANS AT THE PUMP A gas station attendant fills up the diesel tank of a jeepney in Quezon City. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have talked about the possibility of providing cash or fuel subsidies to help transport operators and drivers amid rising oil prices.
“May mga programa pong nagawa po ang ating pamahalaan even since 2019,” LTFRB Executive Director Joel Bolano said during the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday.
(Our government has programs even since 2019.)
“Sa ngayon po ay napag-usapan po namin with DOE ito pong kung again kung pwede ulit tayong makapag-cash or fuel subsidy para lang ho makatulong d’on po sa ating mga public transport operators and drivers,” he added.
(Currently, we have talked with the DOE if we can have cash or fuel subsidies to help public transport operators and drivers.)
Bolano said that they will discuss the matter and extend it to their department.
Public transport operators and drivers earlier appealed for government aid or fare hike as oil prices spike amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pasang Masda, a transport group, recently said that they will file a petition for an additional P3 in the fare.
Bolano said that they are still waiting for their petition.
“Kung sakali pong maipa-receive po ito sa ating opisina, sa LTFRB, ito po ay pag-aaralan po ng ating board in coordination with the department kasi kailangan po babalensehin ho natin,” Bolano said.
(In case we receive it in our LTFRB office, it will be studied by the board in coordination with the department because we need to balance it.)
“Sa ngayon ho nasa pandemic pa ho tayo. Naiintindihan po natin ‘yung mataas na fuel po natin ngayon. Pero tinitignan din po din natin ‘yung capacity rin po ng ating mga pasahero tsaka ng commuters sa ganitong sitwasyon na pandemic pa rin po tayo,” he went on.
(As of now, we are in a pandemic. We understand that fuel prices increased. But we are also looking into the commuters’ capabilities amid the pandemic.)
When asked how much the fare could be adjusted, Bolano said that it could increase by more or less P1.26 if approved, based on their formula.
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