According to a Ministry of Industry and Commerce announcement, the government has agreed to give more than RD$3 billion in subsidies for diesel and Bonogas cards to public transport workers so that they do not have to increase fares.
Every month, the government gives 22,000 drivers RD$3,420 each to buy liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and pays for 3,830 million gallons of diesel a month, but the president of the Unatrafin transport union Arsenio Quevedo has asked the authorities to check who actually holds the Bonogas cards. Quevedo claims that many of these so-called drivers are not actually drivers and others are not even in the country, but they are still receiving the subsidies.
Juan Marte from the CNTT transport union and Alfredo Pulinario (Cambita) asked the government for more Bonogas cards saying that between 8,000 and 10,000 drivers do not have one and to increase the amount from RD$3,420 to RD$5,000.
Other transport leaders, including Blas Peralta from Fenatrado, Antonio Marte from Conatra and Juan Hubieres from Fenatrano, have asked the government to increase the amount of diesel saying that what they receive at the moment only is enough for eight working days.
www.elnacional.com.do/economia/2013/8/26/170473/Subsidian-con-3-mil-MM-al-ano-a-choferes