Cash grant for Eastern Visayas PUV operators
The pandemic badly affected transport operators as they were not able to go out
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Eastern Visayas released over P25.7 million cash assistance to operators of public utility vehicles (PUV).
Operators of 3,958 units plying Region VIII received P6,500 cash per unit under Republic Act 11494, or Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, regional director Gualberto Gualberto said.
Beneficiaries submitted their bank account numbers to avoid face- to- face interaction and minimize risks of infection.
The cash grant was under the “Provision of Support to Road- Based Public Transport Stakeholders” program to help PUV operators, whose livelihood was affected due to quarantine restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“The pandemic badly affected transport operators as they were not able to go out. We hope this will help them cope up with the economic impact of the pandemic,” Gualberto said.
“Some of them have not yet recouped their investments or are still paying for their vehicles.”
LTFRB regional of f ice records showed there are 3,958 authorized units plying the six provinces of the Eastern Visayas. These include 297 public utility buses, 38 mini buses, 1,456 UV express and 2,167 FilCabs (mini jeepneys).
The cash assistance did not cover operators of tourist vehicles, trucks for hire and school service.
Other LTFRB assistance were cash subsidy programs and distribution of free masks, face shields and thermal scanners for drivers and conductors of different transport cooperatives.
Meanwhile, nearly 6,300 t r a d i t i o n a l a nd modern public utility jeepney ( PUJ) drivers signed up during the five- day general registration and orientation activity that ended Sunday for the Service Contracting Program (SCP) of the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and LTFRB.
“The Service Contracting Program will assist drivers gain additional income by giving them performance-based incentives that will also aid in raising the level of service, reliability and ef ficiency in the country’s public transport system,” DoTr Secretary Art Tugade said.
SCP is initially available to PUJ and passenger bus drivers. Drivers or operators of traditional and modern PUJ will receive P11 per kilometer while bus operators or drivers will get P23.10 per kilometer.
The Service Contracting Program will assist drivers gain additional income by giving them performance-based incentives that will also aid in raising the level of service, reliability and efficiency in the country’s public transport system.
The subsidy will be disbursed weekly through LandBank.