MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has started the distribution of Pantawid Pasada fuel voucher cards to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators in its regional offices nationwide Tuesday.
The program aims to mitigate the impact of the recent series of oil price increases and higher excise taxes due to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.
A lump sum subsidy of PHP 5,000 will be provided to 179,852 legitimate PUJ franchise holders until the end of 2018, according to the LTFRB.
“Pantawid Pasada is a social mitigating measure under the TRAIN law. LTFRB is the one in charge of implementing this,” LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said in a radio interview.
The LTFRB launched the distribution of the Pantawid Pasada cards last June 17 in Metro Manila.
The board will be initially distributing the fuel voucher cards to PUJ drivers and operators in the regions of Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, and Soccsksargen.
“Sa ngayon, out of 9 regions, almost 47,000 units ang maibibigay ng fuel cards (Out of the 9 regions, we aim to distribute fuel cards to almost 47,000 jeepney units),” according to Delgra.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr), LTFRB, Department of Budget and Management, Department of Energy, and the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) have signed a joint memorandum circular on the fuel subsidy program last July 11.
According to the guidelines, Pantawid Pasada cards will be provided to the beneficiaries and processed by the LBP. The beneficiaries will have to sign a deed of undertaking that the voucher cards will only be used for purchases of petroleum products at gasoline stations.
Each fuel card contains the following information: complete name of franchise holder, plate number of the PUJ, region where the franchise was registered and card number.
Drivers and operators need only to present a government issued ID and its photocopy in order to avail of the fuel subsidies. The Landbank will issue the card once their names are verified on the master list issued by the LTFRB.
A budget of PHP977 million will be allocated to the fuel subsidy program for its implementation this year. Around PHP3.86 billion will be allocated to provide a PHP20,515 yearly subsidy.
The fuel subsidies will cover the incremental increases of the excise tax on diesel under the TRAIN law. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
