Hontiveros says transport coops should also receive aid amid oil crisis

MANILA, Philippines — Aside from jeepney drivers, transport cooperatives should also be included in the aid to address the ongoing oil crisis due to the Middle East conflict, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Friday.

Hontiveros made this known when she wrote on March 19 to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), as she sought clarification as to how the P30 billion fund under the Department of Social Welfare and Development Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program can be repurposed.

“Right now, no aid will be channeled to transport cooperatives, which is why their drivers are left idle, especially now that the fare hike has been postponed,” Hontiveros said in a statement. “We need to support them as transport service providers, not just as persons in a crisis situation.”

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“Without a clear mechanism to ensure DSWD support reaches them, we face a distressing  paralysis of our public transport system,” Hontiveros also stressed.

In the letter, Hontiveros further said government assistance should be provided to PUV drivers of all classes, since “even those not currently classified under the poorest of the poor, require urgent supplemental income.”

Hontiveros also called for support for her proposed supplemental budget bill for a P52.8 billion subsidy package.

This includes a P12 billion transport subsidy for PUV drivers including delivery riders, and Transport Network Vehicle Service drivers. 

“We need to drastically expand the subsidies being provided to our kababayans in this difficult time,” Hontiveros said.

The Middle East crisis began when the United States and Israel launched an attack in Iran on Feb. 28, which led to the killing of its Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, prompting Iranian retaliation.

The restriction in the strategic Strait of Hormuz is also part of this retaliation, leading to a continuous double-digit oil price hike in the country, which eats up the income of jeepney drivers.

Despite this, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. still suspended a modest one-peso fare hike.

Marcos, however, ordered the release of P21.47 billion to fund fuel subsidies for drivers and sustain infrastructure projects amid the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to the DBM. /mr