NAGLAAN ang gobyernong Marcos ng 4 bilyong piso ngayong taon para makapagbigay ng fuel subsidy sa mga driver at magsasaka habang ang bansa ay bumabangon at bumabawi mula sa pandemya.
Sa isang kalatas, sinabi ng Department of Budget and Management na ang pondo ay huhugutin mula sa regular budget ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Department of Agriculture (DA) sa ilalim ng 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“As directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., this administration will continue providing fuel subsidies to our kababayan, especially in the most vulnerable sectors — public transport and agriculture,” ayon kay Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.
“Kagagaling lang po natin sa pandemya. Naiintindihan po natin na maraming naapektuhang drivers and even our farmers and fisherfolks. We are banking on our transport and agriculture sector to boost economic recovery. And so we need to provide them the help and boost they need,” dagdag na pahayag ni Pangandaman.
Sinabi pa ng DBM na may kabuuang P3 billion ang inilaan sa national budget para i-cover ang fuel vouchers para sa mga qualified public utility vehicle (PUV), taxi, tricycle, at full-time ride-hailing at delivery service drivers sa buong bansa.
Tinuran pa ng Budget department na ang halaga ay mas mataas ng P500 million sa P2.5 billion sa 2022 budget para sa fuel subsidy program.
“This aims to cushion the impact of high oil prices on thousands of PUV drivers,” ayon sa DBM.
Ang implementasyon ng programa ay “subject to guidelines” na ipalalabas ng DOTr, Department of Energy (DOE), at DBM.
“Beneficiaries will be validated and identified by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB),” ayon sa DBM.
Sa kabilang dako, sinabi ng departamento na ang P1 billion ay inilaan para bigyan ng fuel assistance ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda.
“The amount was earmarked to provide fuel subsidies to more than 312,000 farmers and fisherfolk with P3,000 per beneficiary, to ensure unimpeded agricultural production and fishing operations,” ang pahayag pa ng ahensya. (CHRISTIAN DALE)
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