Amid rise in fuel prices, gov't readies new round of UPLIFT aid for farmers, transport sector

by Info @Brand Zone | September 23, 2026

File

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos is preparing to launch a new round of fuel assistance under the Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) to provide relief to vulnerable sectors as the benchmark Brent oil hit $100 per barrel on September 9, for the first time since last July, in the face of renewed US-Iran tension.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said farmers and fishermen are the initial targets of the fresh UPLIFT assistance. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the administration is continuously looking for ways to mitigate the local impact of the increase in oil prices in the global market, which affects the public transport sector and commuters.

Lopez said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is conducting consultations and hearings on fare hike petitions, adding that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is seriously studying how to include other modes of public transportation, on top of PUVs and UV express in the fuel subsidy grant. In an interview with PTV4's Rise and Shine program, De Mesa said, “Sa ngayon inihahanda na natin ang fuel assistance under the UPLIFT program natin. Ito ay direktang mapapakinabangan ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda.” De Mesa said a big chunk of farmers' and fishermen's expenses goes to fuel costs for their combine harvesters to harvest palay and motorized bancas.

“Ngayon ay harvest season ng ating mga palay. Makakatulong ito sa bawas gastos. Lalo na kung ginagamit nila iyong combined harvesters. At ganoon din sa ating mga mangingisda. Alam natin malaking bahagi ng gastusin nila ay ang ginagamit na krudo o fuel na ginagamit sa mga bangkang de motor,” De Mesa said.

The government is also considering waiving toll fees for vehicles transporting agricultural products from Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon to Metro Manila.

“Pag nagkaroon ng pagtaas ang presyo ng petrolyo ang unang naaapektuhan sa sektor ng agrikultura ay iyong dagdag na gastusin sa movement or transportation costs na ipinapasa sa ating mga consumers,” the Department of Agriculture official said. “Naging epektibo dati iyong pagbibigay ng libreng toll doon sa ating mga viajero. Isa iyan sa magandang pangyayari sa mga nakalipas na pagtaas ng (presyo) ng produktong petrolyo,” De Mesa said.

“At mayroon ng mga aksyon na ibalik itong libreng toll. Lalo na sa mga major tolls going in and out of Metro Manila, from south to north, hanggang doon sa iba pang mga links, skyways, toll areas. Up to P150 million iyong naibibigay na additional na libre para sa ating mga viajero,” De Mesa said.

On the private sector hog industry association's proposal to raise pork tariffs, De Mesa said the government is carefully studying how to mitigate the potential impact on pork prices and the subsequent rise in processed pork products such as hotdogs and luncheon meat, which Filipinos consume daily.

“Kailangang balansehin para hindi maka-apekto sa pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin lalo na sa inflation. We really need to have a careful balance,” the official said. In a separate interview, the Transportation Secretary said, “Sa ating mga bus operators at drivers, una po, kami po, ako po ay personal na humihingi ng inyong pasensya, paumanhin at konsiderasyon.

At makaaasa naman po kayo na ang gobyerno gumagawa ng mga iba't ibang mga inisyatibo para po matulungan kayo and in the meantime, matulungan din natin ang ating mga commuters.” On the petition for fare hike, Lopez said the LTFRB is thoroughly considering the issues and concerns of the operators, drivers, and commuters.

“Pagdating po sa ating fare hike po, ito po 'yung sinasabi ko parati na at this point in time po, pinipiga pa rin natin ang gobyerno. Kung anong pwede nating ibigay na inisyatibo, subsidiya.

Tulad po ng fuel discount natin, alam po namin 'yan na from P10 naging P12 at limitado po ang transport modes na makikinabang dyan, 'yung jeepney at tsaka mga UV Express. Iniisip namin kung paano 'to pahahabain pa at isama 'yung iba't ibang transport modes,” Lopez said.

President Marcos formed UPLIFT to provide assistance to the most vulnerable sectors as part of the whole-of-government approach to mitigate the impact of the lingering Middle East crisis.