The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-6) is finalizing the list of qualified transport sector beneficiaries for the cash subsidy program in the region to help cushion the impact of rising fuel costs.

In a media conference on Wednesday, March 25, Neva Jane Alfaras, LTFRB-6 Administrative Officer V, said there are around 8,000 to 10,000 beneficiaries in the region based on their initial data.

She added that there is a separate subsidy for cooperative operators from the drivers.

For modern public utility jeepneys, the operator will receive P10,000 per unit and P1,500 for the driver.

The operators of modern utility vehicle express services will receive P10,000 per unit and the driver will have P5,000.

The operator of traditional pubic utility jeepneys will get P5,000 per unit and P1,500 for the driver.

The operator and driver of a traditional utility vehicle express will get P5,000 each.

Public utility buses will be granted P10,000 each per unit and P5,000 for the driver. The mini-bus operator will have P9,000 for the operator and P5,000 for the driver.

Meanwhile, school transport services will get P5,000 for the operator and the driver; transport network service vehicles will get 1,500 for the operator; while taxis will have P2,000 for the operator and P5,000 for drivers.

Salvador Altura, consultant for the Land Transportation Office in Western Visayas, said they are validating whether the licenses submitted by drivers and operators are professional licenses, otherwise, they will be subjected to disciplinary action and will not qualify for the assistance.

“The fuel subsidy is intended for fuel, but there are other modes of transport that are being operated by cooperatives and corporations. So, this fuel subsidy will go to cooperatives and corporations, not to the drivers. Only individual drivers, lawfully driving a public land transport, will receive the fuel subsidy,” Altura explained.

On the other hand, the LTO will provide 1,000 gift packs to identified drivers during the high visibility, high impact inspection and service caravan on March 26 to 27.

LTO 6 chief Transportation Regulation Officer Jose Degollado Jr. said they will distribute 400 gift packs at the Vallacar Transit terminal on Thursday and the remaining 600 packs in Mohon and Iloilo Terminal Group Services Inc. terminals on Friday.PNA