LAOAG CITY — The Metro Ilocos Norte Council announced that at least 15,000 public transport drivers and operators in Ilocos Norte affiliated with it will receive another round of fuel subsidy from the provincial government starting 26 October.

MINC acting general manager Althea Nicolette Pilar disclosed Monday that the subsidy program will be rolled out again this year due to the continuing rise in fuel prices.

"In close coordination with our public transport groups, all MINC-registered drivers and operators in the province will receive P3,000 each as fuel subsidy," said Pilar, adding that all eligible beneficiaries were pre-identified as MINC members who are supporting Ilocos Norte's vision to improve transportation services in key economic zones.

Ilocos Norte's fuel subsidy program, which started in 2021 and was implemented twice in 2022, is separate from the national government's Pantawid Pasada Program.

Under this program, subsidy vouchers worth P1,000 were given in 2021 and P1,000 and P1,500 were distributed in 2022.

As promised by Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc, the amount for this year's fuel subsidy was increased to P3,000 and will be given as cash.

The release of fuel subsidy came amid the planned nationwide transport strike staged by the Manibela group on Monday but Pilar said no transportation group in the province has indicated its participation in the ongoing mass action.

MINC is a department under the provincial government that deals with transportation affairs.