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Helen Flores - The Philippine Star
March 25, 2026 | 12:00am
President Marcos greets bus passengers after overseeing the fuel subsidy payout for drivers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange yesterday.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — At least 27 bus operators yesterday received P10,000 in fuel aid per unit, amid efforts to mitigate the impact of soaring oil prices.
President Marcos led the fuel subsidy distribution at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
About P2.5 billion in fuel subsidies for public utility vehicles have been rolled out by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
Over 245,000 operators and drivers of more than 1.18 million PUVs are expected to benefit from the program.
Transport sectors will receive varying amounts of fuel aid.
Subsidies will be distributed through checks, fuel cards, cash and direct transfers to bank or e-wallet accounts.
Select transport sectors in Metro Manila are receiving P5,000 from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.
The government is shouldering transaction fees to ensure beneficiaries receive the full amount.
In Parañaque, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian yesterday led the distribution of aid to transport network vehicle services at the San Dionisio Sports Complex.
More than 216,000 PUV drivers are expected to receive P5,000 in cash aid, the DSWD said.
After Holy Week, the DSWD is set to expand the program outside Metro Manila, targeting about 587,000 tricycle drivers nationwide.
Unjust hikes
While the Senate is on recess, Sen. Raffy Tulfo on Monday met with the Department of Energy, DOTr and DSWD to discuss challenges amid rising fuel prices.
Consumers are complaining about the consecutive price hikes swiftly implemented by oil companies days after tensions erupted in the Middle East, he said.
Prices increased despite the fact that the fuel being sold was still old or “buffer stock” and not newly supplied inventory, he noted.
Oil companies in the Philippines appear to have imposed the highest percentage of price hikes, reaching up to 97 percent, indicating possible abuse of the Philippine Oil Deregulation Law, Tulfo said. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Josiah Antonio
