Senator Win Gatchalian urged the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to speed up the efficient distribution of fuel subsidies to the targeted beneficiaries in the public transport sector.

Gatchalian made the call as he is set to pursue the provision of the third tranche of fuel subsidy program to provide economic relief to the transport sector reeling from the effects of the protracted oil price hikes.

“Marami na ang tumitigil sa pagpapasada at nawalan ng hanapbuhay ang maraming PUV drivers. The key here is dapat mas mapabilis natin ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa kanila dahil time is of the essence,” the Senate Energy Committee Chairperson was quoted telling LTFRB during the last consultative meeting on addressing high oil prices.

Gatchalian is eyeing another round of Pantawid Pasada Program amounting to P3,000 per month for the next five months.

The distribution of the first tranche of the fuel subsidy for public utility vehicle drivers and operators which was supposed to have been completed within the second week of May had been marred by delays due to lack of existing database of the intended beneficiaries.

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra told Gatchalian during the consultative meeting that it was only this month that they were able to complete the database of qualified and legitimate franchise holders after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) submitted the list of eligible tricycle drivers.

As of June 16, the total credited fuel subsidies stood at 232,586 or 88% and the remaining 31,992 was promised by Landbank to be remitted to the account holders this week.

Gatchalian overemphasized the need to build payout systems to guarantee the prompt and accurate cash transfers as well as accessibility to the government financial assistance.

Eligible PUV driver-beneficiaries received their subsidies through their existing Pantawid Pasada cash cards while non-cardholders were provided cash cards at designated Landbank branches identified by the LTFRB.