Bishop: P-Noy economic team short-sighted

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday criticized the advisers of President Aquino for being short-sighted in recommending the fuel subsidy program for jeepney and tricycle drivers.

CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace (Nassa) chairman Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said President Aquino was ill advised by his economic team in giving the fuel subsidy to a limited group of the transport sector.

Pabillo said the recommendation given by the President’s economic advisers “is also an indication that his team is biased, not for the poor.”

Pabillo said the fuel subsidy program covered by Executive Order No. 32 is not sustainable.

The EO titled “Instituting the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP)-Pantawid Pasada,” allows the allocation of P450 million from the special funds of the Department of Energy (DOE) for the subsidy program.

Under the EO, funding of the subsidies for tricycles shall also be subject to availability of counterpart funds from local government units. LGUs regulate the operation of tricycles.

It was reported that based on a study conducted by the Inter-Agency Energy Contingency Committee, the PTAP has been found to be the most equitable and efficient form of intervention to provide relief to the jeepney and tricycle sectors.

“Will government always be able to give subsidies? If the money runs out, they would stop giving subsidies. May be they were short-sighted in their solution…I hope they would look at the situation with a wider perspective or offer a better solution,” Pabillo said.

Financial assistance was give to the jeepney and tricycle drivers because they vocally protested, but Pabillo said other sectors of society such as farmers and fisherfolk were left out.

He added that “these programs should thought out properly.”