By Jong Cadion
PAGADIAN CITY– City Local Government Operations Officer (CLGOO) Paulina S. Gadiano answers issue on the implementation of Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP), commonly known as ‘Pantawid Pasada’ following the request of the Federation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators in Pagadian City (FETDOPAC) president Jesuseller Duterte on Friday to give the gasoline assistance to the tricycle drivers instead of franchisees saying that drivers are the ones that are sacrificing in rendering service to the riding public.
Gadiano in a phone interview said the agency cannot grant the request of Duterte, who is bringing the voice of the association saying that the Executive Order No. 32 issued by President Benigno Aquino III on April 1, particularly in section 2 which provides that the “disbursement of the funds shall be made per franchisee and on the number of franchised units based on information to be provided by the DOTC through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“We cannot grant Duterte’s request because it would be very difficult for us to disburse the funds if we will give it to them,” Gadiano explained.
The DILG regional office downloaded P427,500 to the city government funds for the 2,850 franchised units of tricycles in the city.
Meanwhile, Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on transportation and communication chairman Arnold R. Gavenia said the mandate of E.O. is clear : to provide assistance to the public transport sector in order to lessen the impact of high fuel prices. “But the gasoline assistance will be given to the franchisees who legally owned number of franchised units,” Gavenia said.
Gavenia assures the public that PTAP’s goals and objectives will be properly implemented “This ‘Pantawid Pasada’ program of President Benigno Aquino is very laudable, thus we need to effectively and properly implement it for the public transport sector, who is one of the vulnerable sectors of our society, to benefit the impact of the program,” Gavenia added.
Gavenia said he will call a meeting this afternoon with the CLGOO, city auditor and city treasurer to discuss the scheme in giving out the gasoline assistance to the beneficiaries.
Gadiano also said after Mayor Samuel S. Co signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the program, it is expected that the gasoline assistance will be released soon by the chief executive.
