Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 21) — Senate public services committee chairperson Grace Poe calls on transport authorities to immediately release the ₱3 billion subsidy for public utility vehicles (PUV) as fuel prices rise for the seventh week in a row.
“Inilatag na natin sa 2023 budget ang ₱3 billion fuel subsidy na hindi pa rin nagagamit kahit halos matatapos na ang taon,” Poe said in a statement Monday.
[Translation: We have already laid out in the 2023 budget the ₱3 billion fuel subsidy that is still unused although the year is almost over.]
The DOTr must immediately issue the memorandum circulars and execute the memorandum of agreement necessary for the release of the long overdue fuel subsidy,” she added.
The senator’s statement came after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)’s announcement that the ₱3-billion fuel subsidy will only be released once a joint memorandum circular stipulating guidelines will be issued by DBM, DOTr, and the Department of Energy.
Poe also appealed to DOTr and other concerned agencies to “exhaust provisional remedies” to help both the PUV sector and commuters. She further called on the Department of Finance to suspend the excise tax on fuel and petroleum products until prices stabilize.
