FILE PHOTO: A tricycle driver searches his pocket for bills and coins to pay for fuel at a gasoline station on E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City on Monday, March 7, 2022. INQUIRER/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines — Some jeepney operators are allegedly withdrawing the money that was mainly to be used in exchange for fuel from accredited gas stations, the leader of Pasang Masda revealed in a congressional inquiry on Monday.
In a House committee on transportation hearing, Pasang Masda president Roberto “Obet” Martin told lawmakers that fuel subsidies credited in Landbank ATM cards are not supposed to be withdrawn or held in cash since the aid should be directly exchanged for fuel at gas stations.
“Now, hindi ho pupwedeng i-withdraw ‘yan… ‘Pag iwinithdraw ng operator ‘yan—parang ATM (automated teller machine) po ‘yan, pwede mo i-withdraw… May red flag diyan. Ibig sabihin, winithdraw ang pera, hindi ho ginamit sa subsidiya,” he said.
(Now, that should not be withdrawn. When the operator withdraws it—it’s like an ATM, you can withdraw it… There is a red flag. It means the money is withdrawn and not used as a subsidy.)
Martin said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued show-cause orders to concerned jeepney operators to explain why the subsidy was withdrawn from the bank ATM.
“Ishino-show cause po nila ‘yan para magpaliwanag sa LTFRB para ho maproteksyunan ang pera na intended for the driver,” he said.
(They are given show-cause orders to explain to the LTFRB to protect the money that is intended for the driver.)
Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, chair of the panel, hoped that concerned agencies “could come up with a good system.”
“Hopefully, we can come up with a good system… This card, if ever, hindi lang natin malalaman, but if ever it is converted into cash siguro naman ay dapat automatic suspension agad ‘yung card,” he said.
(This card, if ever, we would not only know if it’s used for another purpose but if ever it is converted into cash, maybe there should be an automatic suspension of the card.)
Currently, the LTFRB is distributing fuel subsidies worth P6,500 to operators of public utility vehicles as prices of petroleum products continue to rise.
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