9,000 get fuel assistance

CEBU, Philippines - Around 80 percent or about 9,000 jeepney drivers and operators in Central Visayas have availed of the Pantawid Pasada cards as of December 15, 2011.

Land Transportation Office-7 regional director Raul Aguilos said that out of the 11,695 intended beneficiaries, around 9,000 have already claimed their cards.

Public utility jeepney franchise holders with valid registrations who have yet to claim their Pantawid Pa-sada Cards can get it at the regional office of the Department of Energy and no longer at the LTO regional office or its district offices.

The DOE reiterates that the Pantawid Pasada Cards are given to beneficiaries and at no cost.

The Pantawid Pasada Program is an interim measure of the government to cushion the impact of high fuel prices specifically for jeepneys.

The card is pre-loaded with P1,050.00.

President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III issued Executive Order No. 32 for the Pantawid Pasada program as fuel assistance for jeepney drivers. — (FREEMAN)