Local government units are asked to regulate the possible proliferation of roadside selling of fuel, especially now that the national government is disbursing cash assistance to tricycle drivers.
Officer-in-charge Edmar Derla of the department of energy (DOE) Mindanao field office, called on LGUs to look out for takal-takal fuel vending which is usually done along the road. Takal-takal is the per liter way of selling vehicle fuel.
Derla also called the attention of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) as the matter falls under its concern. “Gasoline is highly flammable. These takal-takal vendors store the fuel in their homes. It can’t only be a possible cause fire, but even conflagration,” he said.
Derla raised the call in response to observation that the Pantawid Pasada cash assistance may possibly encourage takal-takal vending, especially in areas where gasoline stations are far from residents of tricyle owners who are recipients of the Pantawid Pasada cash assistance.
Derla discouraged Pantawid Pasada beneficiaries from buying fuel from takal-takal vendors whose business is unregistered and unregulated. “They will not proliferate if no one is patronizing them,” he said.
The Pantawid Pasada Program, which is officially referred to as Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP), was created under Executive No. 32 signed by President Benigno Aquino to cushion the impact of high fuel prices on marginalized sectors.
Tricycle franchise holders get P150 cash assistance each from the program while public utility jeepney (PUJs) franchisees are entitled to receive P1,050 as per a smart card which bears their name, plate number and franchise number of their unit.
The DoE is the lead agency tasked to implement the program in coordination with the DILG tasked to coordinate with LGUs through which the release of the transport assistance is being coursed.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) are tasked to hand over the smart cards to owners of the duly registered PUJs. [PIA 11/ Jeanevive D. Abangan]
