The government will extend additional assistance to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators to help cushion the impact of the Middle East crisis while ensuring they continue to earn sufficient income to support their families.
Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said during a press conference Thursday that the assistance package includes at least PHP1.5 billion in amortization assistance from the DOTr, equivalent to PHP20,000 per month for every financed modern jeepney unit owned by transport groups under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
The existing PUV modernization participants are prioritized as they can no longer afford to pay their amortization while some are facing foreclosure.
Secretary Lopez explained that the PHP20,000 assistance will help cover the monthly amortization payments for modern PUV units financed through government financial institutions (GFIs), such as LandBank, as well as private banks.
“The objective is to cover as many units as we can and to extend it to how many months as we can,” Secretary Lopez.
The transportation chief also said he has spoken with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who agreed to include PUV drivers in the government’s PHP2,000 UPLIFT Cash Assistance Program, which provides additional financial support for daily expenses.
Meanwhile, beginning August 15, jeepney and UV Express drivers will receive a PHP12-per-liter fuel discount to help reduce operating costs and increase the earnings of drivers and operators.
The new discount is higher than the previous PHP10-per-liter subsidy.
With the increased fuel discount, drivers are expected to save up to PHP1,800 per week on diesel expenses—P300 more than the previous weekly savings of PHP1,500 under the PHP10-per-liter discount.
Secretary Lopez has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to expedite and simplify the implementation process.
In addition to these initiatives, the DOTr has introduced other measures to further increase the daily income of transport operators and drivers. These include waiving toll fees for provincial buses using major expressways starting August 10.
The toll exemption will allow provincial buses traveling through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to save PHP2,337 for a one-way trip, or PHP4,674 for a round trip.
Provincial buses using the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) will save PHP511 per one-way trip between Magallanes in Makati and Calamba, Laguna, or PHP1,022 for a round trip.
The DOTr has also coordinated with the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) to extend the waiver of terminal fees for PUVs until the end of the year.
In addition, monthly terminal fees at 86 SM parking terminals nationwide will also be waived starting August 15, according to Secretary Lopez.
This measure will provide additional relief to PUV drivers and operators who normally pay monthly terminal fees ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP1,500.
