A fuel assistance program for thousands of public utility drivers in Cebu City is set to commence in the third week of May, with beneficiaries receiving fuel instead of cash under the City Government's P35 million subsidy initiative.
Mayor Nestor Archival announced during a press conference on Monday, May 4, 2026, that the in-kind distribution aims to ensure that public funds are strictly utilized for transportation needs amid ongoing volatility in fuel prices.
Archival emphasized that the program is part of the City's broader social support measures for the transport sector, which has been severely impacted by rising operational costs.
Fuel, Not Cash
The subsidy, funded under Supplemental Budget (SB) 1, will initially cover an estimated 10,000 drivers and riders, including jeepney operators, taxi drivers, habal-habal riders, and other transport service providers.
However, Archival stressed that the list remains subject to validation, with adjustments expected as the screening process continues.
Final List
The City is still finalizing the distribution mechanism, including the amount of fuel each beneficiary will receive. Archival noted that allocations may vary by vehicle type and usage, as taxis, motorcycles-for-hire, and jeepneys have different fuel consumption patterns.
“We are still fine-tuning the system because each transport mode has different fuel requirements,” he said.
The City is also evaluating whether to release the subsidy through fuel cards or barangay-managed systems.
Barangay-Level Checks
A key challenge in the rollout is verifying beneficiaries, particularly informal transport operators. To address this, the City will heavily rely on barangay-level validation.
Under the proposed system, drivers will be required to present a valid driver's license, vehicle registration documents such as official receipts and certificates of registration, and photo documentation of both the driver and the unit.
Barangay officials will also be tapped to certify applicants, especially habal-habal drivers who are often not part of formal transport organizations.
Archival said barangay captains are expected to play a central role in screening applicants to ensure that only legitimate drivers are included in the program and to minimize complaints once distribution begins.
Budget Support
The City Government acknowledged the large number of applicants for the subsidy, noting that the final beneficiary list may still be adjusted after validation.
Archival stated that the program remains open to refinement before full implementation to ensure accurate and fair distribution.
The fuel subsidy is among the major social assistance components of SB 1, which was recently approved following budget deliberations that also covered infrastructure, social services, and operational funding for various city departments.
