The Negros Occidental provincial government is stepping in to boost subsidies for public utility drivers.
It will provide counterpart assistance to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) fuel subsidy for public utility drivers affected by rising fuel prices triggered by the Middle East crisis, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said on Wednesday, March 11.
“Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson is okay with allocating a counterpart fund to help hold off fare increases and to aid the drivers,” Diaz said.
LTFRB Negros Island Region Director Gerry Llena met with Diaz on Wednesday, March 11, to discuss the need for counterpart assistance for the drivers.
Llena said that he does not know how much the LTFRB fuel assistance will be, but he expects the guidelines to be released soon.
The provincial government’s aid is expected to augment the amounts allocated by the LTFRB and the various town and city governments for the drivers, Diaz explained.
The provincial government will determine the specific amount it will allocate once the LTFRB receives its guidelines on fuel subsidies, he added.
Llena said some Negros Oriental mayors have already committed to providing counterpart subsidies, and he expressed hope for similar commitments from the Negros Occidental side.
DSWD AID
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also announced on Wednesday that it will distribute P5,000 in financial aid to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers affected by rising fuel prices, starting with Metros Manila.
The assistance, sourced from the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, will initially be distributed in Metro Manila next week, followed by other regions nationwide, it announced.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the department has earmarked P30 billion from the AICS budget to ensure sustained assistance if the global oil crisis continues.
DSWD NIR Director Arwin Razo said he is waiting for specific guidelines on the matter.
Meanwhile, Llena noted that it remains unclear whether the DSWD assistance will be separate from the LTFRB subsidy.*
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