The House of Representatives on Tuesday vowed to push for the retention of funds allocated for fuel subsidy and “Libreng Sakay” programs under the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in the 2023 national budget.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, in a news statement, said the fuel subsidy and the Libreng Sakay programs should stay in the 2023 budget.
The lower chamber has decided to earmark P5.5 billion for the Pantawid Pasada Fuel Program (P2.5 billion), Libreng Sakay (P2 billion) and bike lanes construction (P1 billion) as part of the P77-billion institutional amendments for pro-people programs in the national budget.
The congressional bicameral committee is currently hearing the disagreeing provisions of the 2023 national budget.
“This is one of the pro-people provisions of the proposed national budget. The public needs this,” Romualdez said.
As the rising oil prices continue to batter the public transport sector, Romualdez said the fuel subsidy program remains one of the government services that drivers and operators look forward to in times of need.
“House believes that the Libreng Sakay program will really help commuters. We allotted funds because the public needs it,” Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, said.
The service contracting or “Libreng Sakay” program of the DOTr and LTFRB started in 2020 and was mandated under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. It was continued in 2021 and 2022.
Bike lanes, meanwhile, encourage citizens to use bicycles to go to and from work. “It is a way to be physically healthy and at the same time reduces vehicles on the road,” Co added.
During the budget hearing in September, the DOTr has called on Congress to allocate funds for the Service Contracting Program or Libreng Sakay program.
The DOTr has proposed a P12-billion budget for the Libreng Sakay but the DBM denied it.
The agency has also requested P5 billion for the fuel subsidy program but the DBM only approved P2.5 billion.