NCR fuel subsidy beneficiaries to get cash cards by Dec
PIA-NCR file photo
By Susan De Leon
CALOOCAN CITY, (PIA) — All qualified beneficiaries in Metro Manila of the government’s P1 billion fuel subsidy program are set to receive their cash cards and one-time grant by December this year, an official of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-National Capital Region (LTFRB-NCR) said on Thursday.
During the Laging Handa public briefing hosted by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, LTFRB-NCR Regional Director Zona Russet Tamayo said about 85,000 out of the 136,000 operators of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) have cash cards through the previous “Pantawid Pasada Program.”
She said the rest of the beneficiaries of the program are processed by the Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) and will be distributed nationwide through local branches of LBP.
“Doon sa mga wala pa pong cards, pinipilit ho nating tapusin ho ito by month-end so we only have some few days left. So that by the start of December ay mai-distribute na po ‘yung remaining cards po sa ating mga beneficiaries, the soonest possible time,” Tamayo said.
(Translation: For those who have no cards yet, we are trying to finish this by the start of December, we can distribute the remaining cards of our beneficiaries at the soonest possible time.)
Tamayo said, however. that a total of 78,000 PUJ operators have so far been remitted their one-time fuel subsidy grant.
She said all beneficiaries with active cash cards have been remitted their P7,200 one-time fuel subsidy grant —totaling to over P560 million.
“More than half of our P1-billion budget when we launched it last Wednesday ay nai-credit na po natin doon sa ating mga beneficiaries,” she added.
(Translation: More than half of our P1-billion budget, when we launched it last Wednesday, has been credited to our beneficiaries.)
While the grant is accessible through the LBP’s ATM system, Tamayo said the subsidy can only be used to purchase fuel and is monitored by the LBP.
“Hindi ho ito pupuwedeng i-withdraw sa ATM or gamiting pambili ng ibang gamit at ito po ay strictly fuel subsidy or para lang ho pambayad ng mga binili ho ninyong krudo,” she said.
(Translation: This cannot be withdrawn through an ATM or used to purchase other items. It is strictly a fuel subsidy, only used for purchasing fuel.)
If the funds are used for anything other than fuel purchases, Tamayo said the LBP will flag the erring transaction and the beneficiary will be summoned by the LTFRB.
“Makaka-apekto rin ho ito sa mga subsequent po sanang fuel subsidy program po ng ating gobyerno dahil pinag-uusapan na rin ho iyan for next year na kung maaari hong maipagpatuloy ho natin ang ganitong programa,” she added.
(Translation: This will affect the government’s subsequent fuel subsidy program because we are discussing if we could continue this kind of program next year.)
On Wednesday, the LTFRB, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Budget and Management, and LBP signed a joint memorandum circular highlighting the program’s official launch. (PIA-NCR)
