Exempt LTFRB from public spending ban, Comelec urged

Facade of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board office. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines —  The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should be exempted from the ban on public spending during elections so that it could finish the distribution of fuel subsidies to public utility drivers.

The Passengers and Riders Organization Inc. (Pasahero), which is seeking a party-list seat in the House of Representatives, urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday to grant that exemption.

In a letter addressed to Comelec Chair Saidamen Pangarungan, Pasahero said: “We humbly write on behalf of the thousands of bus, jeepney, tricycle and PUV drivers all over the country who are still reeling from the effects of the almost 2-year lockdown and now pounded by the spiraling fuel prices resulting from the ongoing war in Ukraine.”

The LTFRB has applied for exemption from the ban before March 25 and is still awaiting Comelec’s action on the matter.

So far, the Comelec has exempted the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Social Welfare and Development from the election ban on public spending, while rejecting similar appeals from a number of local governments.

Citing government data, Pasahero said only about 110,200 out of the over 377,000 beneficiaries had received their aid as of April 5.

“Thus, every day that the fuel subsidy is not released to the qualified drivers who rely on the government to grant this laudable palliative measure is an injustice we ought to spare them,” the letter pointed out.

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