THE administration of President Marcos is preparing a new round of fuel assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (Uplift) to provide relief to vulnerable sectors as the benchmark Brent oil hit $100 per barrel on September 9, the first time since July amid renewed US-Iran tension.
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said farmers and fishermen are the initial targets of the fresh Uplift assistance.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez at the same time said the administration is continuously looking for ways to mitigate the local impact of the increase in oil prices in the global market, which affects the public transport sector and commuters.
Lopez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seriously studying to include other modes of public transport in the fuel subsidy now enjoyed by PUJs and UV express. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is also holding consultations on fare-increase petitions.
In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas’ Rise and Shine program, de Mesa said, ‘Sa ngayon inihahanda na natin ang fuel assistance under the UPLIFT program natin. Ito ay direktang mapapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.’
He said a big chunk of the expense of farmers and fishermen goes to fuel for their palay harvesters and motorized bancas.
The government is also considering restoring toll waivers for vehicles transporting agricultural products from Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon to Metro Manila.
‘Pag nagkaroon ng pagtaas ang presyo ng petrolyo ang unang naaapektuhan sa sektor ng agrikultura ay iyong dagdag na gastusin sa movement or transportation costs na ipinapasa sa ating mga consumers,’ de Mesa added.
‘Naging epektibo dati iyong pagbibigay ng libreng toll doon sa ating mga viajero. Isa iyan sa magandang pangyayari sa mga nakalipas na pagtaas ng [presyo] ng produktong petrolyo,’ de Mesa said.
On the private sector hog industry association’s proposal to raise pork tariffs, de Mesa said the government is carefully studying how to mitigate the potential impact on pork prices and the subsequent rise in processed pork products such as hotdogs and luncheon meat, which Filipinos consume daily.
In a separate interview, Lopez said, ‘Sa ating mga bus operators at drivers, una po, kami po, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng inyong pasensya, paumanhin at konsiderasyon. At makaaasa naman po kayo na ang gobyerno gumagawa ng mga iba’t ibang mga inisyatibo para po matulungan kayo and in the meantime, matulungan din natin ang ating mga commuters.’
On the petition for fare hike, Lopez said the LTFRB is thoroughly considering the issues and concerns of the operators, drivers, and commuters.
‘Pagdating po sa fare hike, this is what I have been saying that at this point in time, we are squeezing the government on what initiative of subsidy it can still give. Tulad po ng fuel discount, alam po namin iyan na from P10 naging P12 at limitado po ang transport modes na makikinabang diyan, iyong jeepney at tsaka mga UV Express. We are thinking of how to extend the subsidy to other transport modes,’ Lopez said.
President Marcos formed UPLIFT to provide assistance to the most vulnerable sectors as part of the whole-of-government approach to mitigate the impact of the lingering Middle East crisis. With Samuel P. Medenilla