By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod City government is studying the possible rollout of additional fuel subsidies for public utility vehicle (PUV) and tricycle drivers as fuel prices continue to rise due to global market pressures, particularly developments in the Middle East.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city is exploring ways to extend financial assistance to transport drivers, who are among the sectors most affected by the continuing surge in fuel costs.
The proposed local subsidy would complement the national government’s P3.5-billion transport assistance package launched by the Department of Transportation, which includes P2.5 billion allocated for fuel vouchers and another P1 billion for the Service Contracting Program that funds “Libreng Sakay” or free ride services.
City administrative teams have begun validating the list of potential beneficiaries to ensure proper distribution of aid.
Data on jeepney drivers are being sourced from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), while records of tricycle operators are being gathered through the Bacolod City Permits and Licensing Division.
Gasataya said the amount of assistance and the number of beneficiaries will depend on the total number of eligible drivers identified during the verification process, as well as the availability of funds within the city’s current budget.
Financial assistance
Meanwhile, the Bacolod Alliance for Commuters, Operators and Drivers (BACOD-Manibela) is urging authorities to implement immediate financial support for drivers and to consider a temporary suspension of value-added tax on fuel to help ease the burden of rising pump prices.
BACOD-Manibela President Rudy Catedral called on transport stakeholders to hold off on fare hikes, saying higher fares would place additional strain on commuters across Bacolod and nearby areas of Negros Occidental.
Catedral noted that current proposals from the LTFRB would activate fuel subsidies only if global oil prices reach $80 per barrel, a condition he said drivers cannot afford to wait for.
“Drivers are already struggling as prices continue to increase weekly,” he said, noting that a typical jeepney consumes about 20 liters of fuel per day.
Recent price hikes have reportedly reduced drivers’ daily earnings by around P300 to P400 per trip cycle.
The transport coalition is scheduled to meet this Friday, March 13, with LTFRB-Negros Island Region Director Gerry Llena and LTFRB-Western Visayas Director Richard Osmeña to formally present their concerns and discuss possible interventions to address the impact of rising fuel prices on the transport sector./CJ, WDJ