DOTR ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE ROLLOUT OF CASH AID, FUEL SUBSIDY, FARE DISCOUNTS FOR TRANSPORT SECTOR

FOLLOWING the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Saturday announced the nationwide rollout of transport relief measures—from cash assistance for drivers to fuel subsidies and fare discounts—aimed at easing the burden on public utility drivers, operators, and commuters amid rising costs.

During the Saturday News Forum on Congress TV Digital, DOTr Acting Secretary Giovani Lopez said the cash relief assistance program is being implemented through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Ito ‘yung cash relief assistance program ng DSWD under AICS po ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian and that is P5,000 para sa ating mga tsuper. So, nasama rito ‘yung tsuper ng mga jeepney kasama rin dito ‘yung MC Taxi, TNVS at UV Express kasama rin ho yata,” Lopez said.

The DOTr chief added that the cash aid rollout is being implemented alongside fuel assistance programs.

“Simultaneously with the ayuda na ginawa na ang ating DSWD, nailabas na rin natin ‘yung fuel subsidy program ng DOTr. Kung saan naman ang tutugunan natin is ‘yung mga qualified operator and driver,” the DOTr official said.

He noted that it has already disbursed a significant portion of its fuel subsidy budget.

“So we started, the budget for DOTr is P2.5 billion. To date, ang na-disburse na natin is P1.5 billion. And the process of disbursement nga po natin is through banks, through e-wallet. So ginawa natin kahit papaano cashless payment,” Lopez explained.

Lopez emphasized that the shift to digital disbursement aims to make the process more efficient.

“Yun ang priority natin. Upang sa ganun, ‘yung ating mga tsuper operator hindi masasayang kanilang araw pipila sa ating mga LTFRB offices para lang sa payout,” he added.

Meanwhile, the DOTr chief said the department is also rolling out its Net Service Contracting Program nationwide to support both transport workers and commuters.

“Now we’re rolling out also ‘yung net service contracting program natin. Again, this is nationwide. Nagsimula tayo last Wednesday,” the official said, noting initial challenges in onboarding participants.

“Medyo sabi nga ng LTFRB, matumal ‘yung ating first few days ng ating rollout sapagkat matagal ‘yung onboarding ng ating mga operators and drivers para dito sa programa,” the official explained.

To address this, the DOTr chief said he has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to conduct on-site onboarding.

“Nagbigay na rin tayo ng instructions sa LTFRB na lapitan na kami na ‘yung pumunta sa ating mga terminal para naman kahit paano mas mapapabilis natin ang pag-onboarding ng ating mga operators at sa mga driver natin,” Lopez said.

He said the department expects participation to significantly increase in the coming days.

“We’re expecting by Monday, makaasa po tayo na may 19,000, over 19,000 na jeepney, modern, traditional, and UV express, kasama na rin ‘yung EDSA busway natin, na nakapasok na ‘yung sa programa at mararamdaman na rin po ng ating mga commuters,” he added.

The program also includes benefits for commuters, including fare discounts.

“Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, kailangan din natin magbigay ng kahit papaano ng tulong sa ating mga commuter. That’s the reason why we included also a fare discount na 20 percent sa kanila,” the official said.

In addition, Lopez added that the government introduced a fuel discount initiative in coordination with other agencies.

“Meron din tayong isang klase ng fuel subsidy program pero more of a fuel discount program. At ito po ang pakikipagtulungan sa DOE, sa Land Bank, DICT, madali lang ang konsepto nito… they are entitled to 10 pesos per liter, na discount for one week, meron po tayo 150 liters po ‘yung maximum and in a day, 30 liters po ‘yun,” the DOTr chief explained.

Beyond transport, the government is also addressing the cost of goods, particularly agricultural products.

“But we went further again sa utos ng ating Pangulo to address the prices naman po ng ating mga pangunahing commodities, especially mga agricultural products,” the official said.

He added that starting April 20, agricultural delivery trucks registered with the Department of Agriculture will benefit from toll relief.

“On Monday, based on the instruction of the President, that’s April 20, magsisimula na rin po ‘yung free toll pagdating sa mga agricultural delivery trucks po natin,” the DOTr said.

Lopez said additional measures have also been implemented across other transport sectors.

“Sa railway po, we implemented already what we call the 50% discount sa MRT-3 and LRT-2 natin… in just one week, ang nakinabang na dito, over 4 million passengers,” the official noted.

In aviation, Lopez said the government has reduced terminal and navigational fees.

“Yung mga airline companies natin kahit papaano makakatipid sila ng as much as P5,000, and that will basically translate din sa sustainability and stability ng ating mga pamasahe,” the DOTr said.

Meanwhile, Lopez said in the maritime sector, port fees for agricultural shipments have been significantly reduced.

“For agricultural products, ang binabayaran po ng shipper dyan… can be as much as P546, but this time, binabayaran na lang po P1 na lang. So ‘yun po ‘yung mga big at sinasabi natin ongoing government initiatives po ng Department of Transportation under the guidance and instruction ng ating Pangulo,” Lopez added.