La Union LGUs Roll Out Fuel Aid for Tricycle Drivers, Farmers, and Fisherfolk
By: Dave Leprozo, Jr.
Tricycle drivers and farmers line up for the fuel subsidy coupons at the Balaoan Farmers Civic Center.
San Fernando City, La Union — With fuel prices climbing and livelihoods under strain, local government units across La Union have stepped in with a lifeline: a fuel subsidy program designed to ease the burden on tricycle drivers, farmers, and fisherfolk.
Fuel Subsidy coupons allow the tricycle drivers and farmers at the gasoline station.
At the Balaoan Farmers Civic Center, beneficiaries lined up patiently, clutching documents and permits, waiting for their turn to receive fuel slips. For many, the assistance meant more than just savings—it was a chance to keep their engines running, their boats afloat, and their crops tended despite global uncertainties.
Tricycle riders show gasoline subsidy in plastic bottles.
The program prioritizes those most affected by rising fuel costs: Farmers with standing crops; Fisherfolk registered under the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund; and Tricycle drivers with valid permits through their TODA associations.
Distribution sites were strategically set up in barangay halls and municipal gyms, ensuring accessibility for communities across the province.
Local officials emphasized that the initiative was not just about fuel—it was about sustaining livelihoods. Tricycle drivers rely on daily trips to feed their families, farmers need fuel to power irrigation pumps and machinery, and fisherfolk depend on it to reach fishing grounds.
By cushioning these sectors from the impact of global fuel price hikes—exacerbated by tensions in the Middle East—the LGUs hope to keep La Union’s economy resilient and its communities thriving.
For tricycle driver Mario Santos, the fuel slip meant he could continue ferrying passengers without raising fares. “Malaking tulong ito. Kahit papaano, hindi kami masyadong nahihirapan,” he shared. Farmers echoed the sentiment, grateful that the government recognized their struggles and acted swiftly.
