Fuel subsidy exclusive for Cebu City-registered drivers eyed

Local

ONLY drivers who are registered voters of Cebu City may qualify for the city government’s proposed fuel subsidy.

Mayor Nestor Archival clarified this during a coordination meeting with transport groups, after the city found that some of the names submitted for the subsidy were not residents of Cebu City.

“Among gi-meeting ang transport cooperatives ug drivers. Gipatin-aw namo nga naay mga names nga ilang gisubmit nga dili taga-Cebu City,” Archival said in an interview Tuesday.

“Ang among request kay taga-Cebu City lang, kay ang dili taga-diri naa man sad ilang kaugalingong LGU nga muhatag.”

The planned subsidy, still being finalized, will come directly from the Cebu City government and is separate from financial assistance provided by national agencies.

Archival stressed that drivers from outside Cebu City are not excluded from aid altogether, noting they may still access national government programs.

However, the local subsidy will require proof of voter registration in the city.

“Ang gikan sa LGU, kinahanglan gyud og voter’s certification kay gikan man sa syudad,” he said.

City officials are currently validating the list of beneficiaries to determine how many drivers will qualify, a step that will also guide the total budget allocation.

“Once makabalo nata pila kabuok, didto pa nato mahibaw-an pila atong ibudget. Naay certain budget nga gitan-aw, pero dili pa nako maingon karon,” the mayor added.

Transport groups, meanwhile, say the sector is already under strain as fuel prices continue to rise.

Ellen Maghanoy, chairperson of the Federation of Cebu Transport Cooperatives, said some drivers have temporarily stopped operating, while others are pushing for cost-cutting measures just to stay afloat.

“Apektado na gyud kaayo. Naay uban drivers nga nihunong, ug naay cooperatives nga salary-based nangayo og skeletal arrangement kay lisod na magpadayon nga negative,” she said.

Maghanoy explained that while national subsidies, such as those from the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Transportation, remain accessible to all qualified drivers, the city’s assistance is intended as an added layer of support for Cebu City-based drivers.

“Tanan maka-dawat sa national nga subsidy, pero naa lay additional nga ihatag ang Cebu City para sa iyang mga driver,” she said.

During the meeting, Archival stressed the need to clearly identify beneficiaries.

“Ang challenge karon is to identify ang mga driver nga taga-Cebu gyud, katong voters,” he said.

The mayor added that the subsidy will be released directly by the city government and will not be coursed through national transport regulators.

Meanwhile, transport leaders also raised concerns, particularly among operators of modernized jeepneys who continue to shoulder loan payments despite shrinking earnings.

Some are now exploring the possibility of requesting temporary payment breaks from banks.

The mayor said the immediate priority is to finalize the list of qualified drivers and roll out assistance as soon as possible, as the transport sector continues to grapple with rising costs and uncertain income.(TGP)