A TRANSPORT group leader in Bacolod City on Tuesday, April 5, hit the suspension of fuel subsidy distribution among public utility drivers amounting to P6,500 each by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association (Febacda) president Elizabeth Katalbas said the payout suspension affected the recipient-drivers who are expecting the aid that could supposedly help alleviate their current economic condition.But Katalbas said she is not privy as to how many drivers and operators have already received the subsidy.LTFRB Central Office, through its Executive Director Kristina Cassion, announced the suspension of the payout last March 25 due to the election ban.While the agency has sought reconsideration from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), they stressed that they still have to suspend the payout due to the said restriction.The government is giving out the subsidy to the public transport sector as a mitigating measure against increasing fuel prices and the continuing ill effects of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.In a radio interview, meanwhile, Katalbas lamented that the LTFRB seemingly “does not like Bacolod City” even before.In fact, the agency has been making it hard for the local transport sector, she said.Katalbas said it is high time that local leaders push for the establishment of an LTFRB office in the city, as many operators are having hard time processing their regulatory permits from the agency.All operators are required to process their papers at the LTFRB Regional Office in Iloilo City, which she said is an additional financial burden given the transportation cost and possible expenses to stay overnight if they could not yet finish processing their papers.Katalbas said they will ask local leaders to rally behind the drivers and operators in their call to have an LTFRB office in the city.