THE Deartment of Interior and Local Government in the Central Visayas (DILG-7) has released last week P3,895,500 Pantawid Pasada fund to the 98 local government units (LGUs) as fuel subsidy to 25,970 certified tricycle franchisees in the region.
DILG-7 Regional Director Pedro Noval Jr. announced that each tricycle franchise owner shall get a one-time gasoline subsidy of P150.
The Vallehermoso town in Negros Oriental and Siquijor, Siquijor, received P45,450 and was distributed to their beneficiaries.
Fifteen cities and municipalities received their respective checks amounting to P630,150. Forty-one other LGUs will also receive their fuel subsidy after submitting the certified list of franchisees in their areas.
The subsidy is part of the Pantawid Pasada or the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) of the government that aims to assist the public transport sector to cushion the impact of oil price hikes.
Noval said the sum is part of the P134.4 million Pantawid Pasada fund the government has released to partly subsidize 896,024 certified tricycle franchisees nationwide.
DILG Secretary Jesse M. Robredo urged the LGUs all over the country to provide a counterpart funding to help tricycle owners cope fuel price hikes.
Mayors were likewise directed to set up a PTAP Assistance and complaint desk to receive feedback and to address complaints from the beneficiaries.