MANILA, Philippines — The government is fully prepared to activate its Fuel Subsidy Program (FSP) for more than 1.1 million drivers of buses, jeepneys, tricycles, and ride-hailing services if global oil prices rise beyond US$80 per barrel amid the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday.

In a Palace press briefing, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said the Marcos administration has already allocated ₱2.5 billion under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the subsidy program, with an additional ₱617 million still available from the 2024 budget.

“Ito pong pondong ito ay pinahanda ng ating Pangulo para immediately natin itong ma-distribute at ma-disburse ayon sa guidelines na nakapaloob sa 2025 budget,” Dizon said.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier emphasized the need for quick mobilization of support once the price threshold is reached.

“Ang sinabi ng ating Pangulo, klarong-klaro — dapat mag-ready tayong lahat kapag nangyari ito,” Dizon added. “Dapat mabilis nating ma-distribute ang ating pondo para sa ating mga transport sector members.”

The subsidy is set to benefit an estimated 1,132,407 individuals, broken down as follows:

258,712 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators

723,695 tricycle drivers

150,000 drivers of ride-hailing apps

Distribution channels will include Pantawid Pasada fuel cards, registered e-wallets like GCash and Maya, bank transfers, and cash disbursement through the Land Bank of the Philippines, to ensure swift and accessible aid delivery.

As of the latest monitoring, global oil prices have reached US$78 per barrel, still below the US$80 trigger point.

While President Marcos earlier clarified that there’s no immediate need to implement the subsidy, he assured the public that the government is on standby to protect the livelihoods of transport workers should prices spike due to continued regional conflict.

The program is part of the administration’s broader strategy to cushion the impact of volatile fuel prices on vulnerable sectors amid global instability.