By Brian Campued
The Department of Energy (DOE) said a total of 52 gas stations in Metro Manila will participate in the rollout of the P10 per liter discount on diesel for public utility vehicles (PUVs), which began Tuesday afternoon.
At a press briefing in Malacañang, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin disclosed that 33 gas stations have already been enrolled to the program, while the remaining 19 are still ongoing and are targeted to be completed “within the day.”
“Kung mayroon man kayong mapuntahan na gas station na hindi nag-o-offer [ng P10/L], ay dahil ayaw nilang sumama sa discounting,” Garin said, noting that signages will be posted in participating gas stations for public awareness.
Under the program, each eligible PUV—modern and traditional jeepneys and UV Express vehicles based on the list of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)—is entitled to a total of P1,500 fuel subsidy per week.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Sec. Giovanni Lopez, however, clarified that the discount will not be carried over the following week if not fully used up by the beneficiary as the weekly allocation resets every Monday.
“Kailangan na maubos that week… yung P1,500 or 150 liters kada linggo,” Lopez said.
According to the DOTr chief, around 33,000 jeepneys and UV Express units will benefit from the program’s pilot phase in Metro Manila.
“This is on top of the Service Contracting Program that we are about to roll out tomorrow. Makikita niyo po talagang binibigyang halaga ng ating Pangulo (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) ang ating mga pampublikong sasakyan, tsuper, operator, ganoon na rin po ang ating mga commuters na talaga namang masasabi nating direktang naapektuhan sa pagtaas ng presyo ng langis,” Lopez said.
To further streamline the implementation of the program, the Land Bank of the Philippines provided a “digital end-to-end solution” through its mobile banking application to allow more convenient access to the discount and direct payment of the subsidy from the government to gas stations.
According to LandBank President President and CEO Lynette Ortiz, gas station attendants only need to input the station code as well as the plate number of the PUV availing the P10 per liter discount.
“Everything is online, everything is digital—and the information is stored. So, on a weekly basis, our system is able to know whether a driver has just used up 100 liters and there’s 50 remaining… everything is basically stored in our database that enables us that it’s a fair use of the subsidy,” Ortiz said.
Announced by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on April 9, the Phase 1 of the P10/L discount on diesel is expected to run for three months and will cover selected routes in Metro Manila, including Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue–España Boulevard, Zapote Road, A. Bonifacio Avenue (Cloverleaf–Blumentritt), Rizal Avenue (Monumento–Carriedo), and Marcos Highway.
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