The government is readying a new round of fuel assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to provide relief to vulnerable sectors as the benchmark Brent oil hit $100 per barrel on September 9, the first time since July amid renewed US-Iran tension.

Assistant Agriculture Secretary Arnel de Mesa said farmers and fisherfolk are the initial targets of the fresh UPLIFT assistance.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the administration is continuously looking for ways to mitigate the local impact of the increase in oil prices in the global market, which affects the public transport sector and commuters.

Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seriously studying to include other modes of public transport in the fuel subsidy now enjoyed by PUJs and UV express. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) t is also holding consultations on fare-hike petitions.

In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas’ Rise and Shine program, De Mesa said, “Sa ngayon inihahanda na natin ang fuel assistance under the UPLIFT program natin. Ito ay direktang mapapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.”

De Mesa said a big chunk of the expense of farmers and fisherfolk goes to fuel for their palay harvesters and motorized bancas.

“Ngayon ay harvest season ng ating mga palay. Makakatulong ito sa bawas gastos. Lalo na kung ginagamit nila iyong combined harvesters. At ganoon din sa ating mga mangingisda. Alam natin malaking bahagi ng gastusin nila ay ang ginagamit na krudo o fuel sa mga bangkang de motor,” De Mesa said.

The government is also considering restoring toll waivers for vehicles transporting agricultural products from Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon to Metro Manila.

“Pag nagkaroon ng pagtaas ang presyo ng petrolyo ang unang naaapektuhan sa sektor ng agrikultura ay iyong dagdag na gastusin sa movement or transportation costs na ipinapasa sa ating mga consumers,” De Mesa said.

“Naging epektibo dati iyong pagbibigay ng libreng toll doon sa ating mga viajero. Isa iyan sa magandang pangyayari sa mga nakalipas na pagtaas ng (presyo) ng produktong petrolyo,” De Mesa said.

“At mayroon ng mga aksyon na ibalik itong libreng toll. Lalo na sa mga major tolls going in and out of Metro Manila, from south to north, hanggang doon sa iba pang mga links, skyways, toll areas. Up to P150 million iyong naibibigay na additional na libre para sa ating mga viajero,” De Mesa said.

On the private sector hog industry association’s proposal to raise pork tariffs, De Mesa said the government is carefully studying how to mitigate the potential impact on pork prices and the subsequent rise in processed pork products such as hotdogs and luncheon meat, which Filipinos consume daily.

“Kailangang balansehin para hindi maka-apekto sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin lalo na sa inflation. We really need to have a careful balance,” the official said.

In a separate interview, Lopez said, “Sa ating mga bus operators at drivers, una po, kami po, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng inyong pasensya, paumanhin at konsiderasyon. At makaaasa naman po kayo na ang gobyerno gumagawa ng mga iba’t ibang mga inisyatibo para po matulungan kayo and in the meantime, matulungan din natin ang ating mga commuters.”

On the petition for fare hike, Lopez said the LTFRB is thoroughly considering the issues and concerns of the operators, drivers, and commuters.

“Pagdating po sa ating fare hike po, ito po ‘yung sinasabi ko parati na at this point in time po, pinipiga pa rin natin ang gobyerno. Kung anong pwede nating ibigay na inisyatibo, subsidiya. Tulad po ng fuel discount natin, alam po namin ‘yan na from P10 naging P12 at limitado po ang transport modes na makikinabang dyan, ‘yung jeepney at tsaka mga UV Express. Iniisip namin kung paano ‘to pahahabain pa at isama ‘yung iba’t ibang transport modes,” Lopez said.

Recognizing the rise in inflation rate, Lopez said, “The inflation itself is quite high. Ang August inflation natin is 6.1, ‘pag nagtaas po tayo ng pamasahe ay sigurado pong makakadagdag din ‘yan sa ating inflation. Makakadagdag sa presyo rin po ng serbisyo at presyo ng mga goods.”

“So, we’re trying to say po, sasaluhin po ito ng gobyerno, pipigain natin hanggang sa kaya natin, mga subsidiya, mga iba’t ibang inisyatibo. Ongoing naman po lahat ang DOTr initiatives at sana maging last resort po ‘yung pagbibigay natin ng fare hike. It’s just a matter of time po,” Lopez added. Presidential News Desk