Poe to gov’t: Lose no time in distributing fuel subsidy as fuel price hikes continue

Senator Grace Poe. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday urged the government to expedite the distribution of fuel subsidies to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) as prices of petroleum products continue to increase.

“The government must lose no time in distributing the fuel subsidy to public utility vehicle drivers and operators as they grapple with the weekly spike in oil prices,” Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, said in a statement.

“Along with tricycle drivers, they expect to promptly get the assistance after they were asked to open e-wallet accounts which have yet to receive aid,” she added.

Poe said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board “must address all sources of strain so that help reaches qualified beneficiaries without further delay.”

“We should not make our people wait any longer for the crucial assistance that they badly need at this time,” the senator pointed out.

With the election spending ban lifted on the Service Contracting Program, Poe said she expects that more PUV drivers will be hired to give commuters free rides on certain routes.

“On-time payment of our drivers will clear a bump in the road on the rollout of this valuable service,” she also said.

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