Jeepney drivers now using fuel subsidy cards – DOE

The Department of Energy (DOE) said the Pantawid Pasada fuel subsidy smart cards released on May 2 have been loaded and can be used for buying fuel. The cards have load of P1,050 and can be presented at gasoline stations displaying signs saying, "Pantawid Cards Accepted Here." The DOE has confirmed that some of the cards have already been used. As this developed, GMA News’ State of the Nation reported some gasoline stations have turned away jeepney drivers who wanted to use the fuel subsidy cards for jeepneys they got from the Department of Energy. Jeepney driver Rodel Meneses said, in an interview with Tina Panganiban-Perez of GMA News, that he tried using his Pantawid Pasada smart card in two different gas stations, but that the station attendants told him none of their fuel pumps were designated for the smart cards. But Meneses later found a station which accepted his smart card. He chose to consume all of its credit load in one go because he did not want the trouble of looking for other stations that accept the card. Meneses said his jeep normally consumes P1,400 worth of fuel in a day, so the P1,050 load was not enough to let his jeep run for one whole day.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV However, Orlando Marquez, national president of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operator sa Pilipinas, still appreciated what the government could afford. “Kahit maliit, nagpapasalamat pa rin kami dahil baka sa susunod, baka mas malaki na ang ibibigay," Marquez said. Meanwhile, oil firm Flying V said it will reduce it diesel price by 50 centavos per liter, but its gasoline will go up by 50 centavos per liter. These price adjustments take effect midnight of May 6. The DOE also said it has released more fuel subsidy smart cards. Jeepney operators who got their cards Friday have routes originating from Baclaran Bacood, Bacoor, Bagbaguin, Bagong Barrio, Bagong Nayon, Bagong Silang, Bagumbayan, Bagumbong, Balara, and Balic Balic & Balintawak. Beneficiaries must bring a photocopy of the following documents:

• certificate of public convenience (decision/order)
• Official receipt valid from April 2010 to March 2011 and certificate of registration
• One government-issued ID with photo.

Next Monday, it will be the turn of jeepneys with these points of origin: Balintawak, Baliwag, Blumentrit, Balut, Bangkusay, BBB-Malolos, BBB Tullahan-Village, Bel-Air-Washington, BF Homes-Novaliches, BF Homes-Paranaque, Bicutan-Taguig, and Bicutan-Pasay Rotonda. Also scheduled to get their smart cards May 9 are those plying the routes at Bigte (Norzagaray Bulacan), Binakayan-Zapote, Binangonan, Bintog-Malinta, Blumenttrit-Delos Reyes, Blumenttrit -Pasay Rotonda, Blumenttrit -Vito Cruz, Boni/Pinatubo, Barangay Mali San Mateo, Barangay Pintong Bukawe, Barangay Bagong Silang, Barangay San Rafael (Rodriguez), Buendia, Bulacan, and Buso-Buso-Marikina. Lined up still for May 9 release of the smart cards are jeepney franchises with routes originating from Cabrera-Libertad, Cainta, Cainta Junction-Cubao, Calawis, Calumpang-Cubao, Calumpang-Stop &Shop, Camarin-Novaliches, Cantinar, Camella Homes Spring- Las Piñas, Camella Springville, Cantinar, CCP Complex-Taft, Cielito Homes- Novaliches, and Cogeo-Cubao. For Tuesday, May 10, jeepneys plying the following routes will get their cards: Cogeo-Cubao, Cogeo Gate 2, Commonwealth, Crame, Cubao, Dagat-Dagatan, Dapitan, and Dasmariňas Resettlement-Baclaran. — With Aya Yuson/ELR/VS, GMA News