CEBU — Operators of modern public utility vehicles in Central Visayas may receive P20,000 per unit monthly for up to three months under a national assistance program. The aid comes on top of the existing P12-per-liter fuel discount, according to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 7.
A Lifeline for Transport Operators
LTFRB-7 Regional Director Abosamen H. Matuan said many operators under the Public Transportation Modernization Program are paying monthly bank amortizations while earning less. The assistance is designed to ease their financial burden and prevent loan defaults.
The program covers modern jeepneys and UV Express units nationwide, along with modern buses in Metro Manila. It is open to registered and accredited transport service entities with arrears, outstanding loan obligations, or those at risk of default. Operators who have fully paid for their units may use the funds for operating costs such as fuel, maintenance, spare parts, garage rental, and utilities.
Government Absorbs the Shock
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the assistance on the recommendation of Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez. The LTFRB released the first batch of payments in September, issuing 16 checks worth P9.08 million to 16 transport service entities nationwide.
Matuan explained that the government chose to extend aid to transport groups rather than pass fuel costs to commuters through fare increases. Since March, the government has tried to absorb the impact of the Middle East crisis through fuel subsidies, service contracting, and the P12-per-liter fuel discount.
Proposed Fuel Discount Increase
The LTFRB is also proposing to raise the fuel discount to P20 per liter from P12. The proposal goes to the Department of Transportation, which will endorse it to Malacañang for approval. If granted, the higher discount would further reduce operating costs for drivers and operators.
The LTFRB central office has coordinated with the department on a proposed fare increase, expected to be submitted by October. Matuan said the amount has not been set. He emphasized that the goal is to ensure transport groups are not disadvantaged.
Monitoring Compliance
Matuan said LTFRB-7 monitors compliance with the service contracting program, with personnel deployed in the mornings and afternoons to check whether drivers and operators extend the discount to passengers. The program, formalized in 2023, covers consolidated transport service entities with at least 10 traditional or modern jeepneys, Filcabs, or UV Express units.
Qualified beneficiaries must have a valid certificate of public convenience or provisional authority, be registered with the Land Transportation Office, and carry passenger accident insurance. The LTFRB coordinates with the Department of Energy and the Department of Social Welfare and Development on programs addressing fuel prices.
How to Avail
Operators in Central Visayas may inquire at the LTFRB-7 office for assistance in processing applications. Matuan assured the commuting public that the government is working to find solutions to the crisis. The monthly assistance program represents a concrete step toward stabilizing the transport sector while protecting commuters from fare hikes.
