NEARLY a month after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) commenced its P3-billion Pantawid Pasada program on March 15, only 110,287 beneficiaries as of April 4 have received the fuel subsidy, with a senior legislator blaming the absence of a database for the delay.
The program, which seeks to provide 377,443 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers with fuel discount cards amounting to a P6,500 subsidy, is intended as a relief mechanism for the public transport sector, which currently has to absorb high fuel prices.
According to Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, the lack of a database has led to the delay in the distribution of the fuel subsidy.
He said the election spending ban, which began on March 25, has also hindered distribution.
Mr. Gatchalian called for the development of a centralized database by various agencies and stakeholders to ensure “proper coordination and implementation of the program.”
The proposed database will need to be updated yearly and will help minimize waste and misappropriation of government resources.
On March 23, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) identified 27,777 beneficiaries from the delivery services sector while the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has yet to submit the list of tricycle driver beneficiaries. — Ram Christian S. Agustin
