Fuel subsidy program delay seen in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — Further delays are expected in Cebu City’s fuel subsidy program for habal habal drivers as the revalidation of beneficiaries continues to drag on while officials also anticipate restrictions under the election ban ahead of the November 2026 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).

Mayor Nestor Archival’s chief of staff Kenneth Siasar confirmed that the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) and another group “commissioned” by the mayor are still vetting the initial list of 36,000 drivers.

Many of those listed turned out to be part-time habal-habal drivers, prompting the city to narrow the beneficiaries to full time ones.

“Initially naa na tay lista. Niabot man to og 36,000 ang atong lista. And then based sa gisulti ni Councilor (Jun) Alcover ug sa other barangay captains nga naa pod sa lista ang katong mga mi-sideline lang nga nag drive sa habal habal. So, trabahante sila sa adlaw ug unya sa gabi i nag-sideline sila sa habal habal, naa pod sa lista. So, ang gipatan aw sa mayor ug sa City Council katong gyud mga nanginabuhi as habal habal drivers,” Siasar explained.

Driver associations have submitted their own rosters, which the city is crosschecking against barangay lists.

“Katong ilang lista gyud, katong gyud mga original nga mga habal habal drivers. Unya napuno lang nato ang uban. So, once atong matimbang timbang, ah, maapil nato. Mahatag nato to siya,” Siasar said, adding that Archival had already fast-tracked the process by commissioning a group to handle revalidation.

The delay is compounded by the anticipated election ban.

Under the Commission on Elections rules, the distribution of aid during campaign periods is restricted to avoid perceptions of political gimmickry.

However, on September 14, the Senate voted 13 5 to approve Senate Bill 2387, which moves the BSKE to November 2028 and extends barangay and SK officials’ terms to five years.

On Tuesday, Malacañang said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to review the provisions of the measure before making a decision.

Senator Francis Escudero, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure would “strengthen barangay governance and give our local leaders the time they need to deliver meaningful programs.” — (FREEMAN)