To further aide jeepney operators and drivers hit by the continuing rise in fuel prices, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday announced fuel subsidies would increase four-folds in 2019.

From the present P5,000, the subsidy also known as the Pantawid Pasada Program, will increase to P20,000. It is meant to soften the blow of the fuel excise tax to the public transportation sector, specifically the more than 179,000 legitimate public utility jeepney franchise holders.

“For 2018, the amount allocated is P5,000 per unit which covers close to 179,000 all over the country. The entire amount, actually, is close to P1-billion or to be exact, P977-million. As proposed, for next year it would be four times as much,” LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said at a news conference in Malacañang.

Per the LTFRB’s computation, P3.9-billion will be allocated for Pantawid Pasada in 2019 — from TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Law revenues. This amount, Delgra clarified, is not yet final as it is still subject for approval by Congress.

Nationwide distribution of the Pantawid Pasada cash cards from Landbank started in nine regions on Tuesday. The remaining five regions will begin in the next 10 days to two weeks.

The official reminded all beneficiaries the fuel cards, bearing the name of the franchise owner, account number and plate number of the vehicle are “strictly for fuel purchase purposes only.”