Gov’t to distribute P5,000 fuel vouchers this month

Jeepney operators will start receiving P5,000 fuel vouchers each by the second week of July, a transport official said yesterday.

The government has allocated P977 million for the fuel subsidy of around 179,000 operators of public utility jeepneys this year, according to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Martin Delgra.

Delgra said the subsidy would be given in installments of P800 per month within six months.

Transport leaders, however, slammed the fuel subsidy program as a mere band-aid solution to the sector’s problems.

Obet Martin, Pasang Masda president, said jeepney drivers and operators would not benefit from the program in the long run.

Martin, a supporter of the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program, said transport groups were not consulted on the implementation of the fuel subsidy.

He said instead of fuel vouchers, the government should pool the funds for the acquisition of new jeepneys, which cost around P1.6 million each.

The government is providing P80,000 equity for the acquisition of modernized jeepneys.

Zeny Maranan, who heads the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers’ Associations of the Philippines, said they prefer a P2 fuel discount over the vouchers.

Maranan said jeepney drivers would suffer if the P5,000 vouchers given to the operators are not used properly.