DOE is getting fuel subsidy program ready – official

With less than a week to go, the Department of Energy is now putting the finishing touches on a fuel subsidy program for public utility vehicle drivers. The program starts May 2. But Energy Undersecretary Jose Layug Jr. said Tuesday they are still tackling the details of a similar subsidy for farmers and fishermen. "Patuloy ang paguusap. Abangan na lang nila tuloy ang pag-uusap ... May mandato ang Pangulo. Tingnan namin ang mangingisda at magsasaka, tingnan namin ang detalye," Layug said in an interview on radio dzBB. Earlier, Layug said the DOE has finalized the list of areas where the fuel subsidy cards are to be distributed to PUV drivers starting next Monday. He said they are coordinating their actions with the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Amid concerns about funding and coordination, Layug said they are now exploring ways to include farmers and fishermen in the program. "Pinagaralan pa namin," he said. On the other hand, militant transport groups have belittled the subsidy program, saying the subsidy will be useless by May, given the weekly increases in fuel prices. The militant transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) pushed instead for the scrapping of the 12-percent value-added tax for fuel. PISTON also said it will join militant groups in Labor Day activities May 1 to dramatize the plight of laborers. — AY/VS, GMA News