THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) today pushed for more help for public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators whose livelihood was badly affected by the pandemic and surging fuel prices.
DOTr Secretary Art Tugade said they are still looking for ways to help the public transport sector, one of which is through fuel subsidy program that will use the Pantawid Pasada Prorgram (PPP).
The program is seen to benefit more than 136,000 legitimate PUJ franchise holders or operators who are qualified beneficiaries, where about 85,000 of them already have active PPP ATM cards.
From this number, around 78,000 operators can now use the subsidy to buy crude oil for their jeepneys drivers.
These beneficiaries can now use the one-time fuel subsidy amounting to P7,200, as announced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). More beneficiaries are expected to receive their fuel subsidy in the coming days to help augment their daily living.