As oil prices are set to increase anew amid the rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
During a Palace press briefing on Monday, July 20, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said that the Fuel Subsidy Program (FSP) for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators continue.
The said government measure, which was first introduced in March, will continue amid looming increases in oil prices.
Eligible PUJ and UV Express drivers may receive fuel assistance of up to PHP1,500 per vehicle per week for three months under the program.
“Patuloy pa rin iyong fuel subsidy kasi nandiyan naman iyan sa budget ng 2025 GAA,” said Castro. “So, sa budget for fuel subsidy for PUV drivers and operators ay may P2.5 billion katulad ng sinabi natin na manggagaling sa 2025 Continuing Fund at ang Fuel Subsidy Program or Pantawid Pasada Program ay tuluy-tuloy pa rin.”
Meanwhile, the Palace official also said that the government’s service contracting program, which also previously assisted drivers, has already been fully implemented and that no additional funds have been allocated for it.
Furthermore, President Marcos has directed the Department of Energy (DOE) and other agencies to continue monitoring the fuel situation and implementing measures to help stabilize fuel prices.
“Alam naman natin na continuous ang order ng Pangulo sa lahat ng ahensiya, especially kay Secretary Sharon Garin, para ma-stabilize ang mga presyo ng fuel, at alam po natin kasi nagtutuloy pa rin po iyong krisis sa Middle East. So, tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang pag-monitor dito,” she told.
Prior to this, in June, the DOE said that there were a total of 2,077 liquid fuel retail outlets (LFROs) nationwide that completed all onboarding and enrollment requirements under the FSP.
The operational network now covers all regions nationwide, including major transport corridors and provincial routes.
The National Capital Region, for one, has 419 participating stations, 427 in Northern Luzon with 427, 442 in Southern Luzon, 391 in the Visayas, and 398 in Mindanao.
These stations have established the required systems and dedicated lanes to facilitate safe and efficient transactions through the Land Bank of the Philippines or other authorized banks.
“Every day, we continue to expand the network because we want fuel assistance to be easier and more accessible for our drivers,” said Energy Secretary Sharon Garin back then.
The FSP is a program under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) Program pursuant to Executive Order No. 110, or the Declaration of a State of National Energy Emergency.
It aims to cushion the impact of global oil market volatility on the transport sector and help protect the livelihoods of drivers and operators.
