CEBU, Philippines - Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma yesterday defended the move of the National Government to extend assistance to the transport groups to minimize the impact of the skyrocketing prices of crude oil in the global market.
In yesterday’s press conference, Coloma said that an executive order was issued for the purpose and they are now preparing guidelines for its implementation.
Executive Order No. 32, he said, provides direct assistance to owners and operators of tricycles and jeepneys for one month. The money will be taken from the savings of the Department of Energy and counterpart funds to be put up by local government units.
“We are hoping that prices might meet the tendency to go down now that they are already reaching the highest level. That is why we are implementing this program only for the period of one month,” Coloma said.
Coloma pointed out that it is the local government units who regulate the operations of tricycles. Coloma said being the common man’s means of transportation, the tricycles are the first in line in the government’s effort to cushion the impact of high oil prices.
Next in line are the jeepneys.
The government’s safety net would target people who are worst hit or who would suffer most. (FREEMAN)