Villanueva: Restore PUV fuel subsidy; Don't suspend similar aid to farmers, fisherfolk

Senator Joel "TESDAMAN" Villanueva today backed calls that fuel subsidies to public utility vehicles be taken out of the election public spending ban list.

"The call of the hour is to step on the gas in distributing this aid, and not to step on the brakes," Villanueva said.

The senator also said that the similar distribution of fuel vouchers to farmers and fisherfolk should not be halted on account of the May 9 elections.

"This is a critical lifeline to crucial sectors impacted by the high gas prices. So a moratorium is not only unjust, it is oppressive," Villanueva said.

The senator previously called on the government to ?fast track the distribution of the P2.5 billion fuel subsidy to the transport sector, and increase the P500 million fuel subsidy program for farmers and fisherfolk. In addition, he called for boosting the fuel subsidy for fishermen to an initial P2 billion.

He justified his call by citing studies that fuel accounts for half of the operating cost of fishermen, "which translates to half of the retail prices of fish we see in the market."

"Any moratorium effectively cancels any proposal from the government to increase the budget of the program and the number of beneficiaries," he said.

Villanueva said fuel vouchers should be treated in the same category as medicine for the sick. "Dahil po ba may eleksyon, ititigil na po ba natin ang pagbibigay ng gamot at lunas?" Villanueva said.

"Remember these are not tax breaks for billionaires in the millions, but trickle-down help to those who feed us, those who are bringing us to work," he said.

Villanueva was the first senator to call for more exemptions to the election season government spending ban in order not to disrupt social services and work on critical infrastructure.

The senator also warned that declaring a pause on critical public works construction "will drive tens of thousands of workers into temporary unemployment."

"Employment and economic relief should not be a casualty of election. Feeding the nation, transporting the people, pandemic recovery should not take a back seat to polls," he said.

Villanueva made the reaction as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has paused the allocation of fuel subsidy for PUV drivers and operators pending authorization from the COMELEC.

Fuel ayuda sa mga PUV drayber, ibalik; Subsidy sa magsasaka at mangingisda, wag i-suspend - Villanueva

Pinaboran ni Senator Joel "TESDAMAN" Villanueva ang mga panawagan na huwag suspendihin ang ayuda sa krudo at gasolina at tanggalin ito sa listahan ng ipinagbabawal na "public spending" sa panahon ng halalan.

"The call of the hour is to step on the gas in distributing this aid, and not to step on the brakes," ani Villanueva.

Kaugnay nito, nanawagan din si Villanueva na huwag suspendihin ang ayuda sa gasolina para sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda nang dahil lamang sa eleksyon sa Mayo 9.

"This is a critical lifeline to crucial sectors impacted by the high gas prices. So a moratorium is not only unjust, it is oppressive," dagdag niya.

Dati nang nanawagan ang senador na madaliin na ng gobyerno ang pagbigay ng 2.5 bilyon na fuel subsidy sa transport sector, at dagdagan ang P500 million fuel subsidy program para sa magsasaka at mangingisda. Hiningi rin niya na taasan pa ang fuel subsidy para sa mga mangingisda sa inisyal na P2 billion.

Sinabi ng senador na kalahati ng gastos ng mangingisda ay sa gasolina lamang ayon sa maraming pag-aaral, kaya kalahati rin ng presyo ng isda sa palengke ay dahil sa krudo.

"Any moratorium effectively cancels any proposal from the government to increase the budget of the program and the number of beneficiaries," sabi ni Villanueva.

Ayon kay Villanueva, ang fuel vouchers ay parang gamot sa maysakit. "Dahil po ba may eleksyon, ititigil na po ba natin ang pagbibigay ng gamot at lunas?" aniya.

"Remember these are not tax breaks for billionaires in the millions, but trickle-down help to those who feed us, those who are bringing us to work," pahayag ni Villanueva.

Si Villanueva ang unang senador na nanawagan na magkaroon ng mas maraming exemptions sa paggastos ng pamahalaan sa panahon ng eleksyon dahil marami umanong programa na mababalam, lalo na ang social services at kritikal na imprastruktura.

Ang pagtigil din aniya ng paggawa sa public construction ay magreresulta sa kawalan ng trabaho ng maraming manggagawa.

"Employment and economic relief should not be a casualty of election. Feeding the nation, transporting the people, pandemic recovery should not take a backseat to polls," sabi ni Villanueva.

Ayon sa mga ulat, suspendido ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa gasolina ang Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board LTFRB para sa mga drayber ng PUVs habang wala pang pahintulot mula sa COMELEC.