LGUs have no counterpart fuel fund assistance for tricycles

PANGLAO, BOHOL, Philippines — Local government units in Bohol have no appropriations for counterpart fund for the tricycle operators here, under the Public Transport Assistance Program (PTAP) or Pantawid Pasada Program of President Benigno Aquino III.

"No fund," said Panglao town Mayor Benedicto Alcala in his text message to The FREEMAN. Other town mayors also said the same, while Mayor Tom Gonzaga of Danao said there are no tricycles operating in his town but only habal-habal or motorcycle-for-hire.

Aquino III has issued Executive Order No. 32, implementing the PTAP and allocating an initial fund of P450 million to finance it.

The DILG-Bohol earlier announced the money may not be immediately released to the tricycle operators unless the LGUs concerned could ably put up a counterpart fund for the purpose. —THE FREEMAN