Malacañang on Thursday assured transport groups that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is committed to addressing their concerns over rising fuel costs, saying the government is continuously improving the implementation of its fuel subsidy program.

During a Palace press briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration is acting on concerns raised by transport groups, including the availability of participating gasoline stations where drivers can avail themselves of the fuel subsidy.

Castro made the statement after transport group Manibela claimed the expanded fuel discount as only a “temporary relief” and pointed out that the limited number of accredited gasoline stations forces many public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers to continue paying the full pump price.

“Lahat iyan ay tinutugunan ng ating pamahalaan at sa lahat ng kanilang mga concerns ay makakaabot ito para matugunan nang mas mabilis kung ano iyong mga lugar na dapat pa na magkaroon ng mga gasoline stations na magbibigay ng fuel subsidy,” Castro said.

She said the government expects that the increase in fuel subsidy from PhP10 to PhP12 per liter will provide greater relief to the transport sector.

“Sa ganito na P2 ang increase from P10 to P12 – ito ay makakapagbigay na rin ng ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan, sa transport sector dahil itinaas nga natin sa P12 kada litro. So, P1,108 kada linggo ang tulong ng gobyerno o P7,200 kada buwan ang maaari nilang ma-save o kitain sa pamamagitan ng fuel subsidy na ibinigay ng gobyerno,” she said.

Asked why the government approved a P12-per-liter subsidy instead of the P20-per-liter assistance reportedly recommended by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Castro said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) would provide the details during its scheduled briefing later Thursday.

She said the government has initially earmarked P400 million for the expanded fuel discount program.

“Sa ngayon ay may inilaan P400 million para sa fuel discount at ang pinakadetalye nito mamaya ay magkakaroon ng press briefing ang DOTr… para maibigay ang pinakadetalye kung paano narating ang dose pesos o PhP12 na fuel subsidy para sa ating mga tsuper,” Castro said.

Castro also said the subsidy program, set to begin on August 15, will remain in place for as long as transport workers continue to need government assistance.

“Sa ngayon ay walang definite na panahon. Hangga’t kailangan ng tulong ng ating mga kababayan sa transport sector ay mananatili ang pagbibigay ng ayuda,” she said.

She added that the DOTr would also announce how long the current P400-million allocation is expected to last. Presidential News Desk