The Bacolod City government is studying the possibility of granting additional fuel subsidies to public utility jeepney (PUV) and tricycle drivers to cushion the effect of price increases brought on by the Middle East crisis, Mayor Greg Gasataya said on Monday, March 9.
The possible city government subsidy would be on top of the amounts to be granted by the national government, he said.
Department of Transportation has announced that is preparing a ₱3.5-billion transport subsidy package that includes ₱2.5 billion earmarked for fuel vouchers and another ₱1 billion for a Service Contracting Program to fund “Libreng Sakay” initiatives.
Gasataya said they are still determining the number of PUJ drivers in Bacolod based on data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the tricycle drivers based on data from the Bacolod City Permits and Licensing Division.
The local subsidy will be based on the final number of covered drivers and the availability of city funds, he said.
While the national government already has funds set aside for public transportation workers, Gasataya said the city hopes to be able to provide a separate local fund to offer further relief to Bacolod’s drivers.*
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