Marcos admin eyes 2027 fuel subsidy funding to shield PUV drivers from rising oil prices

Photo from PCO

MANILA (PIA) — The Marcos Jr. administration, through Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez, appealed to Congress for funding to sustain the government's Fuel Subsidy Program in 2027, aiming to continue assisting public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers amid persistently high fuel prices.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement measures to ease the impact of rising oil prices on the income of PUV drivers.

DOTr requests P5-B allocation, absent from proposed budget

Lopez told the Senate Subcommittee on Finance during a hearing on the proposed 2027 DOTr budget that the agency has requested P5 billion for the Fuel Subsidy Program next year. 

He noted, however, that no funding for the program has been included under the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

"Napapanahon po itong fuel subsidy. Itong mga nakaraang buwan, simula nang nagkagulo po tayo sa Gitnang Silangan, I think that was last week of February, March nagtaasan na po ‘yung presyo ng langis," Lopez said.

"Ang una po nating tugon at ang una nating solusyon para sa ating mga transport group, transport drivers, transport operators, itong fuel subsidy," he added.

Lopez said the P2.5-billion allocation under the 2025 budget, used to implement the initial P10-per-liter fuel discount, was fully utilized within two to three months of implementation.

He stressed that the subsidy has provided significant relief to PUV operators and drivers, underscoring the need to secure funding for the program's continuation next year.

"Napakalaking tulong po ‘yan sa mga transport group. Ito po ay mula sa mga sinasabi nating regular jeepney all the way po sa mga iba't ibang modes ng transportation maliban lang po sa mga tricycle kasi hindi napapaloob sa LTFRB po ‘yan," he said. 

"Makikiusap po ulit kami sa inyo sa Committee on Finance, sa Senado at Kongreso, ng budget sa fuel subsidy para sa taong 2027," he added.

Part of broader effort to protect public transport sector

Transport officials said the proposed and continued fuel subsidy funding forms part of the Marcos Jr. administration's ongoing efforts to cushion the impact of volatile global oil prices on Filipino commuters and transport workers, reinforcing the government's commitment to protecting the livelihoods of PUV drivers and operators nationwide. (JCO/PIA-NCR)