• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The fuel subsidy of 855 tricycle drivers in Bacolod City should be released as soon as possible, the Sangguniang Panlungsod urged the City Administrator’s Office (CAO).
“It is urgent that the fuel subsidy will be released to qualified beneficiaries immediately without further delay,” the SP said, adding that the CAO already reviewed and counterchecked the applications of these drivers, and found them eligible to avail of the assistance, under City Ordinance 1003, or the Fuel Subsidy Program Ordinance of Bacolod.
The ordinance, authored by Councilor Em Ang and passed by the SP on Aug. 17, 2022, provides for a P1,000 subsidy, either through fuel voucher, prepaid card, or cash, to each tricycle driver or operator with existing franchise duly registered with the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO).
The ordinance said there are 5,610 tricycles-for-hire with existing franchise in the highly-urbanized city. Of the number, 1,963 applied and 864 were disqualified, mostly for failure to comply with all the requirements before the application deadline.
The SP, in Resolution 80-2024, appealed to the CAO to reconsider the 864 disqualified tricycle drivers, and “upon thorough review and counterchecking done on March 7, 2024, only 855 tricycle drivers are eligible to avail of the fuel subsidy”.
The City Legal Office also issued a legal opinion (LO) providing for the mechanics of the reconsidered tricycle driver applicants.
“Provided that the reconsidered tricycle driver-applicants comply with the requirements in LO-24-069, it is urgent that the fuel subsidy be released to the qualified beneficiaries without further delay,” the SP urged the CAO as it approved July 24 the resolution, also authored by Ang, on the matter. | CGC
