THE government is considering financial assistance for minimum wage earners, the middle class, and government employees who are also feeling the impact of the oil crisis fueled by the conflict in the Middle East. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro stated in a press briefing that the provision of financial aid to these sectors is contingent upon the government’s available budget.
Castro clarified that the administration’s immediate priority is to provide aid to the transportation sector, which the oil crisis has directly and severely affected.
“The transport sector was prioritized because they were the first to be hit and they desperately need assistance,” she explained. She added that President Marcos Jr. is balancing aid across different sectors, which is why a fare hike was not immediately allowed, ensuring that the benefits of the aid extended to the transport sector also reach the general public, including the middle class and minimum wage earners.
Despite the current focus on the transport sector, Castro emphasized that President Marcos Jr. is extending assistance to all Filipinos through various means.
These include free transportation services and a 50 percent discount on fares for the LRT and MRT systems. She reiterated that the President’s approach ensures that all citizens, including workers and the middle class, benefit from these measures, particularly through the continued deferral of any potential fare increases. The administration’s strategy aims to provide relief broadly while prioritizing those most immediately impacted by the escalating fuel costs.
