File photo for reference only The Department of Transportation (DOTr) began distributing fuel subsidies to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators on March 24 amid increasing fuel costs due to Middle East tensions. The initiative, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., provides P10,000 per operator at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, benefiting 27 bus operators with 1,096 units. The move complements the Department of Social Welfare and Development's cash assistance program. Get today's headlines by email The government allocated P2.5 billion for the fuel subsidy from the 2025 national budget, released after receiving the Notice of Cash Allocation on March 19. Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez confirmed that 245,066 drivers and operators of 1,180,783 PUV units nationwide, including various transport modes, will begin receiving subsidies. The program aims to alleviate the financial burden on operators affected by volatile fuel prices. Subsidies are allocated as follows: public utility bus operators and P2P operators receive P10,000; minibus and modern UV express operators get P9,000 and P10,000 respectively; taxi operators are offered P2,000; and modern and traditional jeepney operators are allocated P10,000 and P5,000 respectively. Drivers receive varying amounts through cash or e-wallet payments. The DOTr has designed the distribution to manage the budget effectively, despite limitations. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian also announced a P5,000 cash aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) for PUV drivers at 17 sites across the National Capital Region starting March 24. The schedule includes TNVS drivers on March 24, jeepney drivers on March 25, service delivery riders on March 26–27, and MC Taxi drivers on March 28. Looking ahead, the rolling distribution will continue, targeting additional drivers after Holy Week. The government's approach underscores its commitment to mitigating the impact of fuel price surges on essential transport services, ensuring continued operation and financial support for PUV stakeholders, reported Inquirer. Join the discussion? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Inquirer · 24 Mar 2026
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