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'Increased' aid to be given to transport workers after fare hike suspension

A jeepney driver refills his gas tank at a station in Manila on March 15, 2022. Motorists and commuters continue to struggle as oil prices continue to skyrocket. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

MARIVELES, Bataan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said that the government will increase aid for transport sector workers after he suspended a scheduled fare hike that was expected to help drivers reeling from oil price shocks.“Kahit na hindi itataas ang fare sa ngayon, deferred lang muna ang fare hike, ay dadagdagan naman natin ang tulong sa kanila para hindi naman sila malugi,” the President told reporters in a chance interview.“Lalong-lalo na parating ang Holy Week, alam nating napakaraming bibiyahe para hindi mabawasan ang biyahe,” he said. “So lahat ng ating mga pamilya ay makakapag-celebrate ng Holy Week na kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.”On March 18, Marcos suspended an approved fare hike, citing the need to help commuters in the Philippines. But transportation groups were outraged at his announcement, underscoring that thousands of drivers were directly hit as diesel prices spiked to over P100 per liter in less than 2 weeks.Earlier this week, the government started providing a P5,000 cash aid for public utility vehicle drivers to augment their livelihood after pump prices saw double-digit increases due to Iran’s blockade in the Hormuz Strait, where 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through.Marcos did not give details on how much additional aid the transport sector will receive, but noted that assistance programs will be “accelerated.”The President added that the government “will be able to soften the blow” to ordinary Filipinos, even as he admitted that they can&#x27;t anticipate how oil shocks linked to the airstrikes between US-Israeli and Iranian forces will pan out.<div>OIL AND FOOD SUPPLIES</div>“We are trying to find different methods para makapagbigay ng subsidy, para makapagbigay ng tulong,” he said.“The problem is masyadong malikot ang presyo ng langis. Hindi natin ma-anticipate. So we are still adjusting right now,” he said.The government assured the public that it is “securing the supplies of oil and food,” he said.“Ang binabantayan na lang natin ngayon ang presyohan. Sa pagkain, mas marami tayong magagawa. Naghahanap kami ng paraan pa para ibaba ang presyo ng pagkain,” he said.“Iyong langis, wala tayong magagawa diyan pero at least ‘yung suplay ay tinitiyak naming magkakaroon,” he said.“So kahit na may stock tayo, patuloy ang paghanap ng Pilipinas – dahil kumukuha talaga tayo sa Middle East.”Earlier this week, the government started providing a P5,000 cash aid for public utility vehicle drivers to augment their livelihoods after pump prices saw double-digit spikes due to Iran’s blockade in the Hormuz Strait, where 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes through.While fuel subsidies have also been distributed to farmers and fisherfolk, the government’s program for middle class Filipinos has yet to be announced.<div>SUSPENDING FUEL EXCISE TAXES?</div>Malacañang meanwhile, defended Marcos&#x27; remark that he is still studying the possible suspension of fuel excise taxes.This, as both chambers of Congress passed the proposed measure granting the president special power to suspend or reduce excise tax on oil amid surging prices and global supply instability.In a statement, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro argued that on the approved version of the bill, the President can only act based on the recommendation of the Development Budget Coordination Committee once the average Dubai crude oil price exceeds $80 per barrel for one month.“Nasabi ng Pangulo iyan dahil ayon sa naaprubahan na bill, ang  Pangulo ay makakakilos at makakapagdesisyon  lamang ayon sa recommendation ng DBCC  kung ang average Dubai crude oil price exceeds $80 per barrel for one (1) month or 30 days preceding the order,” she said.“Ayon nga kay DOF Sec Go, wala pang 30 days sa ngayon. Pero, ngayon pa lamang ay inaaral na ang kondisyon sa pag-reduce or pag-suspend ng excise tax on fuel,” Castro added.“Dagdag pa rito, ang excise tax ay ipapataw sa pagpasok na inaaangkat na langis, kung walang maaangkat, wala tayong mapag-uusapang excise tax,” she further noted.The Palace official assured the public of swift action to lower oil prices once the bill is enacted into law.“Pero kapag naisabatas naman po yan, asahan ang mabilis na aksyon para maibaba ang presyo ng fuel,” she said.

“Kahit na hindi itataas ang fare sa ngayon, deferred lang muna ang fare hike, ay dadagdagan naman natin ang tulong sa kanila para hindi naman sila malugi,” Marcos said.

“Kahit na hindi itataas ang fare sa ngayon, deferred lang muna ang fare hike, ay dadagdagan naman natin ang tulong sa kanila para hindi naman sila malugi,” Marcos said.