To protect the Filipino household budget, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced today a comprehensive, multi-sectoral relief package to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices.
Speaking from Malacaรฑan Palace, the President emphasized that while international market fluctuations are beyond domestic control, the governmentโs responsibility to intervene on behalf of its citizens is absolute.
โNgunit ang hindi maaaring mangyari ay maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang buong bigat nitong mga pangyayari na wala naman silang kinalaman,โ President Marcos stated. (โWhat cannot happen is for every Filipino to feel the full weight of these events for which they have no responsibility.โ)
The President underscored that the administrationโs response is guided by a single standard: immediacy. The relief measures are designed to be felt directly by ordinary Filipinos in their daily expensesโfrom food and electricity to commuting costs.
To lower the cost of daily travel, the administration has activated the following:
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Mass Transit Discounts: A 50% fare reduction for all commuters using LRT-2 and MRT-3.
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Extended “Libre Sakay”: Continued implementation of free rides on key routes to ease the burden on workers.
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Air Travel Relief: Reduction in terminal and aeronautical fees to lower costs for air passengers.
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Toll & Fuel Subsidies: Targeted toll discounts for jeepneys, buses, and trucks, alongside fuel subsidies for over 1.4 million drivers and units nationwide.
Recognizing the vulnerability of the transport sector, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is rolling out the TUPAD Para sa mga Tsuper program. This provides emergency employment and social protection to displaced or disadvantaged transport workers. Additionally, 120,000 tricycle and TNVS drivers have already received direct cash assistance through the DSWD.
The President highlighted that fuel prices often lead to food inflation, a cycle the government is moving to break:
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Expansion of P20 Rice: The program now spans 627 centers, including Kadiwa outlets, ensuring affordable staples are accessible to more communities.
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Farmer & Fisherfolk Support: Continuous distribution of fuel and fertilizer subsidies to ensure that production costs do not translate into higher market prices for consumers.
President Marcos concluded his address by reiterating that the bureaucracy has been ordered to eliminate delays.
โIsa lamang ang aming pamantayan: agaran, pinakamabilis, at direktang mararamdaman ng ordinaryong Pilipino. Hindi bukas, hindi sa susunod na linggo, ngayon,โ he said. (โWe have only one standard: immediate, fastest, and directly felt by the ordinary Filipino. Not tomorrow, not next week, but now.โ)
The Office of the President, in coordination with the DSWD, DOTr, and DA, will continue to monitor the global situation and stands ready to expand these programs as needed to maintain economic stability for every Filipino family.
