The government’s ₱10-per-liter fuel discount program for public utility vehicles has expanded from a pilot run in Metro Manila to nationwide coverage, with more than 5,000 gas stations now participating, a senior Palace official said Saturday, June 6.
Undersecretary Erwin Sta. Ana of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) told DZRH News program “Special on Saturday” that the expansion is part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of elevated fuel prices on the transport sector under the UPLIFT or “Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport” program.
The program was launched on April 10 as a pilot in the National Capital Region (NCR), initially targeting 52 accredited gas stations, under the joint implementation of the Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation.
Under the program, qualified PUV operators may avail of a ₱10 discount per liter of diesel, with a maximum of 150 liters per week, equivalent to a ₱1,500 weekly subsidy that resets every week with no carry-over for unused amounts.
“Mayroon na tayong makikita na fuel subsidy program which is ang 10 peso discount per liter for PUVs. Pinapalawak po natin iyan ngayon nationwide. Nagsimula tayo sa NCR, ngayon nationwide na ang coverage natin at mahigit limang libong gas stations na ho ang kasama diyan,” Sta. Ana said.
PUV operators may avail of the discount by refueling at any participating gas station, informing the attendant of their intent to avail of the subsidy, and providing their registered plate number for system encoding, after which the ₱10-per-liter discount is automatically deducted from the bill.
Sta. Ana confirmed that the subsidy is funded by the government, drawn from a budget allocated under the DOTr-LTFRB, and is not a voluntary discount by participating gas stations.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez had earlier said the program, once fully rolled out, is expected to benefit over 171,000 PUV units nationwide, with an estimated 33,000 units operating daily in Metro Manila alone.
