GUAGUA, Pampanga — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in partnership with the provincial government of Pampanga, recently gave P1 million worth of fuel assistance to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in the province.
On behalf of Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda, PESO Manager Luningning Vergara and Guagua Mayor Anthony Joseph Torres turned over the assistance to the St James Cooperative, one of the leading cooperatives in the province, to manage the fuel assistance in their gasoline station situated in Brgy San Roque, Guagua.
“Nakita po natin yung pangarap po na magkaroon ng gasolinahan na magseserve sa mga tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers para sa murang gasolina ay nabigyan po ng katuparan. Salamat po sa tulong po ni Governor Dennis, ni Vice Governor Nanay, DOLE at PESO Family,” said Mayor Torres.
The assistance is part of Governor Pineda’s commitment to support the transport sector during a crisis.
”Alam naman natin na ang sektor na ito ang talagang apektado sa presyo ng fuel. Alam naman natin hindi madaling kontrolin ang presyo ng fuel, so nag-isip si Gov Delta at Nanay para sila ay matulungan, kasi kaunti na lang ang kita nila sa pamamasada. Ipinatupad ito para mapigilan lang natin ang pagkalugi ng mga driver. So with this program ,atleast bababa ang gastusin nila,” said Vergara.
Through the assistance, PUJ drivers may now access cheaper fuel in the cooperative’s gasoline station.
“Maaari nating itong ibigay ng less than two pesos o mas mababa pa diyan, plus maaari pa tayong gumawa ng iba ipang insentibo. Gov, maraming salamat po sa tulong na ibinigay niyo po sa mga taga Guagua. Asahan nyo po na hindi po ito masasayang, kundi lalo pang mas mapapalago at lalo pang makakatulong ito sa mga miyembro ng cooperative at transport group,” said Jefferson Macapinlac, general manager of St James Cooperative.
The provincial government is also set to provide aid to another cooperative based in Magalang.
