Capitol prepares subsidy for habal-habal drivers

CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Central Visayas (LTFRB-7) is close to completing the list of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who will benefit from the government’s fuel subsidy program, its regional director said.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Abusamen Matuan said yesterday that around 87 percent of the beneficiary list has already been submitted, with the agency now working to finalize the remaining entries.

Matuan explained that delays in completing the list were mainly due to difficulties encountered by some operators in finalizing and consolidating their respective lists of drivers.

He noted that while fuel subsidy distribution has already started in other parts of the country, the rollout in Cebu has yet to begin as the agency awaits the completion of the beneficiary list.

Once finalized, Matuan assured that the release of fuel subsidies in Cebu will immediately follow.

He also advised transport operators to ensure that their drivers have active e-wallet accounts, such as GCash, to facilitate the direct and timely transfer of financial assistance and avoid further delays.

The fuel subsidy program forms part of the government’s response to the rising cost of fuel, which has significantly affected the income of public transport drivers.

Earlier, transport groups in Cebu earlier decided to suspend their participation in a nationwide transport holiday following assurances from LTFRB-7 that fuel subsidies would be processed and released.

Transport leaders continue to call on the government to implement sustainable measures as rising fuel prices and operational costs continue to strain the income of drivers across the region.

Meanwhile, acting on the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved on March 24 (Tuesday) the release of ₱20 billion through a Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) to the Department of Energy (DOE) to ensure the country’s fuel supply and to shield Filipinos from the effects of the global oil crisis.

The funding, sourced from the Malampaya Gas Fund under the Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF), will support the government’s Emergency Energy Security Program.

The initiative is designed to stabilize fuel availability, prevent supply shortages, and cushion the impact of volatile global oil prices, according to DBM in a statement.

The move comes amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have disrupted global oil production and distribution, posing serious risks to domestic fuel supply and the continuity of essential services.

Budget Secretary Rolando U. Toledo emphasized that the swift approval reflects President Marcos Jr.’s clear directive to ensure that no Filipino is left vulnerable to fuel disruptions.

“This is about protecting the daily life of every Filipino, from the jeepney driver and delivery rider, to our farmers, frontliners, and ordinary families. Kapag may problema sa fuel, apektado ang buong ekonomiya. Hindi puwedeng maghintay,” Secretary Toledo said.

The ₱20 billion intervention will fund the strategic procurement of fuel products including diesel, gasoline, and LPG to boost the national fuel inventory, stabilize pump prices, and ensure uninterrupted operations across transport, logistics, agriculture, emergency response, and other critical sectors.

The program will be implemented by the Philippine National Oil Company–Exploration Corporation (PNOC-EC), which has already begun procurement activities to immediately augment domestic fuel supply.

The funding will be charged against the Malampaya Gas Fund, ensuring that resources are readily available for urgent national energy security needs without affecting other priority programs.

Capitol eyes subsidy for habal-habal drivers 

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro announced that the Cebu Provincial Government is preparing to roll out a fuel subsidy program targeting “habal-habal” drivers across the province, focusing on those in the informal transport sector who are not covered by national assistance.

The governor said the program is still being finalized, with implementation expected after the observance of Holy Week. “We are still finalizing the guidelines, after Holy Week,” Baricuatro said during a press conference yesterday.

The province is eyeing to provide fuel assistance equivalent to P3,000 to P5,000 per driver, covering an initial list of around 5,000 beneficiaries.

Baricuatro clarified that the subsidy will not be given in cash but in the form of fuel. “Dili kwarta kundi fuel…because if there’s fuel, they can earn from it,” she said.

She added that the provincial government intends to coordinate closely with city and municipal mayors in the distribution process.

The governor explained that the focus on habal-habal drivers stems from the fact that many of them belong to the informal sector and are often left out of national government programs.

“Kay ang ubang drivers naa nama’y nanghatag, so ang habal-habal drivers jud ang punterya aning sa Province,” she said.

Assistant Provincial Administrator Aldwin Empaces said local government units (LGUs) have already started consolidating and validating their respective lists of beneficiaries.

“Most LGUs now nag-inventory na sila kay some LGUs would like to do the same initiative pud,” Empaces said.

He added that the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) has been directed to guide LGUs on what assistance will be provided.

“Ang instruction nato karon with PSWDO is unsa’y ihatag didto, mosunod nalang ‘mi,” he said.

Empaces said the province is also considering partnerships with fuel stations to ensure that assistance is given strictly in the form of gasoline. “We’re also leaning sa guidelines na possible naa mi partner nga gas stations para gas jud ang ihatag, dili cash,” he said.

Based on initial studies conducted by the provincial government, Empaces said fuel worth P1,000 could already cover a driver’s needs for up to two weeks.

He noted that if the maximum subsidy of P5,000 is granted, it could potentially sustain drivers for at least two months. “So basin ang P5,000 mo-cover og at least two months,” he added.

Empaces said the initiative is part of what the province calls a “sectoral marginalized intervention,” aimed at assisting groups that are often excluded from formal support systems. “Kani sa province kay gi-focusan ang habal-habal kay mahug mani sila nga informal sectors,” he said.

He pointed out that other transport groups are already covered under national emergency assistance programs. “Ang uban drivers kay ma-cover man sa national emergency. Katong atong gi-cover kay kana jung di masulod,” he said.

The province is currently validating the initial list of around 5,000 habal-habal drivers to ensure that only legitimate beneficiaries are included.

Empaces explained that some individuals listed as habal-habal drivers may not be actively engaged in the sector. He stressed the importance of cleaning up the list in coordination with LGUs to maintain the integrity of the program. “So we really want to clean up the list karon together with the LGU,” he said.

He added that individuals who may not qualify under the habal-habal category could instead be endorsed to other provincial programs.

The provincial government expressed hope that the fuel subsidy will help cushion the impact of rising oil prices on vulnerable transport workers. “Hopefully mao nay gi-target ni Gov nga ma-normalize ang crisis sa oil,” Empaces said.