Cebu City will begin distributing fuel aid to thousands of public transport drivers in the third week of May. The city government confirmed that beneficiaries will receive fuel instead of cash, under the P35-million driver subsidy program included in the approved Supplemental Budget (SB) 1.
Fuel Aid to Ensure Proper Use of Public Funds
According to Mayor Nestor Archival, the decision to provide assistance in the form of fuel aims to ensure that public funds are used only for transportation needs amid fluctuating petroleum prices. He said the program is part of the city's broader measures to support the transport sector, which has been severely affected by rising operational costs.
Coverage and Validation Process
The subsidy, funded under the recently approved supplemental budget, is set to cover an initial 10,000 drivers, including jeepney, taxi, motorcycle taxi (habal-habal), and other transport service providers. However, Archival explained that the list will undergo validation, and changes are expected as screening continues.
Archival revealed that the city is still finalizing the distribution mechanism, including how much fuel each beneficiary will receive. He noted that allocations may vary depending on the type of vehicle and its equipment, as a taxi, for example, has different fuel consumption compared to a motorcycle or jeepney.
“We are still refining the system because each type of transport has different fuel requirements,” the mayor said.
He added that the city is also studying whether distribution will be done through fuel cards or a system managed by barangays.
Challenges in Identifying Beneficiaries
One of the main challenges identified in implementation is the difficulty of identifying beneficiaries, especially those drivers without formal organizations. To address this, the city will rely heavily on validation at the barangay level.
Under the proposed system, drivers must present a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration, and photo documentation of the driver and their unit. Archival said barangay captains are expected to play a major role in screening applicants to ensure that only legitimate drivers are included in the program and to minimize complaints once distribution begins.
The city government acknowledged the large number of applicants for the subsidy and announced that the final list may still change after validation. Archival said the program remains open for system improvements before full implementation to ensure transparency and fairness in distribution.
Part of Broader Social Assistance
The fuel subsidy is one of the main social assistance components of SB 1, which was approved after budget deliberations that also included funding for infrastructure, social services, and operational needs of various city departments.
