Some 101,216-tricycle operators in Metro Manila started receiving their fuel subsidy today (May 16) from the government’s Public Transport Assistance or Pantawid Pasada program.
In a report to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, DILG National Capital Region (NCR) office Director Renato Brion noted that Pasig City is the first Metro Manila local government unit (LGU) to distribute the fuel subsidy to its tricycle franchise owners.
Brion reported that the distribution was held Monday (May16) afternoon at the covered court of Brgy. Pinagbutahan to some 8,445 certified tricycle franchise owners of the city.
He said each beneficiary received a one-time gasoline subsidy of P150 per tricycle unit.
The report also noted that Quezon city is scheduled to hand out its gasoline subsidy on Wednesday amounting to P3.7 million, which is expected to benefit some 24,647 tricycle franchisees, while the other Metro Manila cities will be giving the fuel assistance to their respective beneficiaries within the week and next week.
Last week the DILG-NCR released a total of P15.2 million fund to the 17 town and cities of NCR for the fuel subsidy of some 101,216 tricycle franchise owners regionwide based on the implementing guidelines issued earlier by the DILG.
Aside from Pasig and Quezon, the breakdown of the fund distribution for other Metro Manila town and cities include (in thousands): Last Piñas – P723,150; Muntinlupa – P676,500; Marikina –P473,850; Malabon – P969,000; Taguig – P660,600; Valenzuela – P662,850; San Juan – P75,900; Pateros – P225,000; Parañaque – P718,050; Mandaluyong – P574,950; Navotas – P277,500; Makati – P632,850; Caloocan – P2.2 million; and Manila with P429,750.
According to Brion, the fund is part of the P134.4 million released by the government through the Pantawid Pasada program to partly subsidize some 896,024 certified tricycle franchises nationwide.
Meanwhile, Robredo renewed his call on the city and municipal mayors nationwide to provide counterpart funding for the program in order to help tricycle franchise owners cope with the continuing hike in fuel prices.-30- CRD, PIA
