By Robert B. Roque, Jr.
For only the third time this year, there is a rollback in oil prices today. And just as you guessed it, the price drop per liter of gasoline and diesel is estimated at a microscopic rate of P1.00 and 35 centavos, respectively.
With third-world, non-gas producing demeanor, Juan dela Cruz yet again settles for this pittance of relief in the middle of this year’s saga of oil price hikes. It’s difficult to be grateful when the year-to-date increases in pump prices that we’ve experienced, to date, have reached P16 per liter for gasoline, P26/l for diesel, and P24.10/l for kerosene.
Even the government is not singing “hallelujah” over this measly rollback – a ripple effect of the extended pandemic lockdown in Shanghai in China which is the world’s top importer of oil; and an announcement by several large consumers of releasing their oil stockpiles over the next six months.
The only respite we get from all this is that the government has started its transport service contracting program this week, allowing commuters to ride public utility vehicles (PUVs) for free in the next six weeks.
While this is good news for our everyday workers, let me echo the call of transport groups to be vigilant so that the billions of pesos allotted for this program under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is not abused.
Bear in mind that P7 billion has been earmarked for this program, which should benefit PUV operators and drivers with fixed wages over the course of 45 to 60 days and extend free rides to commuters along at least 1,000 routes nationwide.
With an estimated 15,000 PUV units targeted under this program, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade must make sure the LTFRB does not fall back to those complaints by transport groups last year about delayed and inadequate payments for as long a time as four months.
There’s no more reason now to hide behind so-called technical glitches in the payout services as had been the claim of authorities before. As is the case now, this form of government subsidy to rescue the ailing transport sector and the general public from the scourge of sky-high oil prices is already late.
So at the very least, the LTFRB should be committed to a smooth and efficient implementation of this program. Our taxes, after all, are paying for it.
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