Study on Pantawid Pasada Program’s revival sought

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City North District Representative Raul del Mar is seeking a study on the revival of the Pantawid Pasada Program, a public transport assistance scheme of the previous administration.

The Pantawid Pasada was implemented in order to provide targeted relief for the public transport sector, and to cushion the impact of high fuel prices specifically among the public utility jeepneys.

Del Mar and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, jointly filed on February 6, 2018 House Resolution No. 1654, urging the Department of Energy, the Department of Finance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other agencies concerned to reassess the viability of the program.

Both said the excise taxes on fuel and petroleum products have increased due to the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act.

The additional excise tax on diesel is P2.50 per liter in 2018; P4.50 in 2019; and P6 in 2020 onwards. On the other hand, excise tax on gasoline is P7 per liter in 2018; P9 in 2019; and P10 in 2020 onwards.

The drivers and operators of public utility vehicles are already seeking an increase in fares and flag down rates in order to recoup their income losses owing to oil price hike.

The DOF earlier last year announced its plan to revive the program, which was launched in May 2011.

The DOF has proposed providing subsidies to commuters and improve the quality of public utility vehicles.

The DOF planned to subsidize the fares of some 10 million commuters for at least one year, although no exact amount has been stated yet. (FREEMAN)