Transport sector gets relief as Marcos orders P10/L fuel subsidy

National

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a P10-per-liter fuel subsidy for public utility vehicles (PUVs) to help ease the impact of continuous fuel price hikes driven by tensions in the Middle East.

Under the program, PUV drivers and operators will receive support covering up to 150 liters per week for three months, equivalent to around P1,500 in weekly savings or up to P18,000 in total benefits, a report by Inquirer.net said.

The subsidy will be implemented through pre-selected gasoline stations monitored by the Department of Energy.

The rollout will first cover PUVs operating along major routes in Metro Manila, starting with Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, before expanding to other key roads such as Quezon Avenue, Alabang-Zapote Road, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Marcos Highway, and later to other parts of the country.

The fuel subsidy is expected to help cushion transport costs and prevent further increases in fares and prices of basic goods, following weeks of sharp oil price hikes, with diesel reaching over P170 per liter.

In addition, the Department of Transportation is set to implement a separate nationwide service contracting program starting April 15, covering around 50,000 PUVs and 1,000 operators.

Under the scheme, drivers will be paid per kilometer through GPS monitoring, while commuters are expected to benefit from discounted fares of up to 20 percent.(Rodgelyn Morales, CTU-TC BAEL-ELSD Intern)