DOE fuel subsidy reaches P103.7M

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) reported that the government’s fuel subsidy program has reached around ?103.7 million in total assistance availed as of June 10, benefiting more than 62,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers nationwide.

DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad said last Monday that the latest figures cover week nine of implementation, from June 8 to 10, under an ongoing rollout that began on April 13.

“On week nine, this is June 8 to 10, this is the latest to date implementation from April 13. Now we’re at June 10. The total subsidy availed by the PUG and UV Express totals to around ?103.7 million. And those that availed public utility vehicles numbers to around 62,342,” Abad said.

He said this translates to thousands of drivers receiving the government’s ?10 per liter fuel discount, with continued expansion of participating fuel stations to improve access for beneficiaries.

“For now, we have been increasing the enrolled gasoline station participating in the fuel subsidy program to almost 2,000 gasoline stations,” he added.

Abad also noted that the government is preparing to expand the program to include logistics vehicles transporting agricultural goods, such as trucks and vans delivering farm products.

He said the expansion will involve coordination between the DOE, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Department of Agriculture, with funding realignment expected to support the broader coverage.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7) began distributing cash assistance worth ?5,000 each to more than 32,000 delivery riders and drivers in Cebu and other parts of Central Visayas, starting June 15 until June 18.

DSWD-7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said the payout covers around 32,149 beneficiaries, including drivers from GrabTaxi and Move It, making Cebu the first major payout site outside Metro Manila for the program.

Lucero said the agency introduced a faster verification and payout system that allows beneficiaries to complete the process in less than three minutes, a significant improvement from previous payout operations.

She added that earlier payout experiences for tricycle drivers helped refine the system, reducing waiting times from one to two hours to under 10 minutes, and now to just a few minutes per beneficiary.

The DSWD-7 said the improved system is intended to be adopted in other assistance programs, including the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), the Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the “Tara, Basa!” tutoring initiative.

“At the end of the day, we always want our clients to be fully satisfied with the way the government delivers services. That is the drive that we want, efficiency in service delivery,” Lucero said.

On the first day alone, 6,338 beneficiaries were scheduled to receive assistance, including 4,338 Move It riders and 2,000 GrabTaxi drivers, with an estimated ?30 million released during the initial payout.

Lucero also assured that beneficiaries who are ill or hospitalized do not need to personally attend payout sites, as DSWD personnel may deliver assistance directly to them.

“As long as they are on the list, they will all be paid,” she said, adding that those unable to claim on schedule will be accommodated in succeeding payout dates.

Lucero clarified that the cash assistance is separate from the fuel subsidy program implemented by the LTFRB, stressing that both initiatives serve different support mechanisms for transport workers.

She said the DSWD assistance is part of the government’s broader response to rising fuel costs, aimed at easing the financial burden of drivers and riders who have been among the most affected sectors. — (FREEMAN)