Despite the reported ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Committee on Public Services Chairperson Senator Raffy Tulfo reminded the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to still continue monitoring the average price of the Dubai crude oil to ensure that the fuel subsidy for PUV drivers and riders will be promptly distributed once its price has reached the US$80 per barrel threshold for a month.
According to the 2025 General Appropriations Act, “the grant of the fuel subsidy to the intended beneficiaries shall be subject to the issuance by the Department of Energy (DOE) of a certification that the actual average price for one calendar month of Dubai Crude Oil based on Mean of Platts Singapore per barrel has reached 80 US dollars.”
As of June 26, the average price of Dubai crude oil stands at $78 per barrel which is still below the required threshold of $80 per barrel.
Tulfo immediately coordinated with DOE and DOTr to also ask about their plans since there is still no certainty if and when will the supposed projected oil price rollback would take place.
The legislator also highlighted that some oil companies had already implemented a 2.60/liter increase on Diesel and a 1.75/liter increase on Gasoline last June 24 and June 26 — with another expected round of increases — all of which have been felt by the affected sector.
“DOTr decides when, how, and how much to distribute.”
Officer-in-Charge Sharon Garin said that DOE can only go as much as informing DOTr and issuing a certification that the average price already reached $80, and that DOTr “decides when, how, and how much to distribute.”
DOTr Undersecretary Ramon Reyes likewise confirmed that they only rely on DOE and the GAA provision.
That’s why Tulfo urged DOE and DOTr to discuss ways to still extend help to PUV drivers and riders considering that they are currently carrying the burden of the oil price hike.
“I encourage big oil companies to give fuel discounts for PUV drivers while there is no significant rollback yet.”
The legislator also encouraged big oil companies to give fuel discounts for PUV drivers while there is no significant rollback yet.
“At kung hindi man matuloy ang rollback na inaasahan at patuloy ang pagtaas ng krudo, kailangang siguruhin ng DOTr na agarang maipapamahagi at hindi magkakaroon ng delay sa fuel subsidy distribution,” the lawmaker concluded.
