MANILA — Beginning August 15, the fuel discount for jeepney and UV Express drivers will be increased to P12 per liter from the current P10 per liter, Malacañang announced Wednesday.
In a press release, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said this was in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to increase discounts on petroleum products to cushion the impact of the Middle East tensions to the transportation sector.
“Kapag napatupad na ito, aabot sa P1,800 kada linggo ang mapapakinabangan ng mga drivers. Ito ay dagdag sa inisyal na P10 na discount kada litro na sinimulan noong Abril, na nakatulong na sa mahigit 93,000 PUV drivers,” Recto’s office said Wednesday.
The decision was made in a meeting with Cabinet secretaries in Malacañang on Tuesday, August 4, where other mitigating measures were discussed to strengthen the government’s response to the effects of the crisis.
Recto also directed the Department of Social Welfare and Development to ensure that the UPLIFT assistance will reach its intended beneficiaries, including farmers, fisherfolk, workers in the transport and construction sectors and low-income earners.
“Gaya ng inaasahan, patuloy na nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan ang epekto ng kaguluhan sa Gitnang Silangan. Dapat tuloy ang trabaho, tuloy ang ayuda, at ramdam ng bawat sektor ang presensya at malasakit ng gobyerno,” Recto said.