The City Government of Valenzuela, headed by Mayor WES Gatchalian, in cooperation with the City Council, begins the distribution of one-time fuel subsidy vouchers worth Php 500 to the TODA officers and members at Valenzuela City Amphitheater on October 5, 2022.
Legitimate tricycle operators and drivers in the city started to receive fuel subsidy vouchers from the city government to serve as aid in experiencing unforeseen rise in the price of fuel in the past few months. The fuel subsidy voucher distribution program is implemented through the City External Service Office – Public Order Safety Group’s Transportation Office headed by Mr. Jay Valenzuela.
The fuel subsidy program is part of Mayor WES Gatchalian’s agenda in his first 100 days as the new city mayor. In his message, Mayor WES said “Ginawa po nating priority ang transport sector ng ating lungsod dahil isa po ito sa pinaka naapektuhan ng pandemya at kayo po ang dahilan kung paano tayo nagsusurvive sa pandemyang ito, kung wala po ang mga tricycle drivers ay malamang na mas malaki po ang problema natin dito sa lungsod. Hindi naman po kalakihan ang subsidiyang ibibigay natin, pero sana po ay makatulong ito sa inyo. Ang pamahalaang lokal po natin ay tuloy-tuloy na magiisip ng mga progaramg makakatulong sa inyong mga TODA drivers.” [We made our transport sector a priority because it’s the most affected sector by the pandemic and you are the reason on how we survive this pandemic. Without the transport sector, our problems here in the city will be much harder. This subsidy program is not that big but I hope this would be able to help you. Our local government would continue thinking projects that would benefit our TODA drivers.]
The Valenzuela City Council approved Ordinance No. 1043, Series of 2022 on September 5, 2022 entitled “An Ordinance Providing for a One Time Fuel Subsidy to All Valenzuela City Franchised For-Hire Tricycles on Account of the Recent Unprecedented Increase of Fuel Prices, Providing for Funds Thereof and for Other Purposes, Subject to Existing Auditing and Accounting Rules and Regulation” authorizing the release of Php 3,712,000 from the city’s budget to alleviate the fuel price crisis in the nation and aims to give fuel subsidy voucher worth Php 500 to a total of 41 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) that consist of 7,424 tricycles for-hire in the city, to assist them amidst the escalating fuel prices due to unforeseen reasons.
Also present during the event were Congressman REX Gatchalian, Vice Mayor Lorie Natividad-Borja, Councilors Mickey Pineda, Marlon Alejandrino, Gerald Galang, Chiqui Carreon, Niña Lopez, Louie Nolasco, Bimbo Dela Cruz, Ricarr Enriquez, Cris Feliciano, Ghogo Deato Lee, Liga ng mga Barangay President Councilor Jonjon Bartolome, and SK Federation President Councilor Goyong Serrano.
Mayor WES also led the oath taking of the new Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) federation officers.
On September 27, 2022, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 1053, Series of 2022 entitled “An Ordinance Amending Section 3 of Ordinance No. 1043, Series of 2022, Otherwise Known as the “Fuel Subsidy Assistance (FSA)” and for Other Purposes” adding 277 beneficiaries to the program bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 7,424 as amended.
By: William Chua
