MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) has signed the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) that would govern the release of the P450-million fund for the Pantawid Pasada or Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP).
The IRR was issued pursuant to Sec. 6 of Executive Order 32. The new rules were jointly issued by the Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, the Department of Budget and Management, the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Transportation and Communication.
These govern the following: guidelines for the sourcing, releasing and liquidation of funds; responsibilities of the DOE, DOF, DBM, DILG, DOTC, and the LGUs; determination of the beneficiaries; guidelines and mechanism for distribution; information and education campaign; and reportorial requirements.
Funding for the PTAP shall be sourced from the DOE-Special Account in the General Fund (SAGF)-151 specifically from the Malampaya revenue (Service Contract 38), to be released to the DOE for P300 million and DILG for P150 million.
The rules stated that counterpart funding of the LGUs may consist of additional cash assistance and/or manpower commitment for the implementation of the PTAP.
It said the DOF, through the Bureau of Treasury, shall provide the DOE with the certification of available fund collections under the DOE SAGF-151 of Service Contract 38.
The choice on the manner of distributing the assistance shall be contingent on the unique circumstances of each sector, guided by the principles that the purpose of any mechanism is to ensure that maximum benefit redounds to the intended beneficiaries.
Only legitimate franchise holders with valid and updated Land Transportation Office (LTO) registrations shall be entitled to the card. For the public utility jeepneys, those with existing franchises of good standing as of March 31, 2011 shall be entitled to the cards.
The DOTC shall direct LTFRB to furnish the DOE with the list of legitimate public utility jeepney franchise holders. DOTC shall also direct the LTO to submit the list of vehicles registered as public utility jeepneys.
To assist the DILG in the implementation of the PTAP for tricycles, LGUs are requested to furnish the DILG with the detailed list of legitimate tricycle franchise holders in their respective localities corresponding to the total number of tricycles submitted to the DILG by the respective LGUs as of March 28, 2011.
All lists submitted to the DOE and the DILG by the LTFRB, the LTO and the LGUs are deemed complete and final. Further additions in the list of beneficiaries for both public utility jeepneys and tricycles will no longer be considered for the implementation of the PTAP.
The rules stated that only public utility jeepneys shall be entitled to use the card. The distribution of the PTAP for tricycles may use other methods so long as the integrity of the disbursements is assured.
“To ensure the integrity of the disbursements, a debit card shall be used. The card shall have the following features: a) the capability to restrict usage for fuel purchases only, b) provide the DOE other data i.e. the historical data of load consumption, and c) list the following information on the face of the card: plate number, route origin, and franchise number,” it said.
The cards are the property of the government and after the load of the card has been consumed, the cards shall not be disposed of by the public utility jeepney beneficiaries.
Under the guidelines to be issued, the DOE said it may request for the immediate surrender of the cards at any time for monitoring/control purposes. Loss of the card shall be reported immediately to the DOE for proper accounting.
To support the drive of ensuring that only legitimate public utility jeepney franchise holders are entitled to use the cards, petroleum retail outlets or gasoline stations are enjoined to verify that the plate number of the public utility jeepney corresponds to the plate number appearing on the card.
Gasoline stations have the right to refuse the card for fuel purchases by any public utility jeepney whose plate number does not match the plate number indicated on the card.
By June 1, the cards shall be required for the entitlement of the existing discounts in petroleum retail outlets or gasoline stations for public utility jeepneys in areas where the cards have been distributed. The DOE will come out with the appropriate issuance to carry out this provision.