The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has disbursed around PHP253.47 million for its service contracting program since 2022, which benefited around 1,722 drivers and 7.6 million commuters from the Ilocos Region to date.

LTFRB-Ilocos Region director lawyer Anabel Marzan-Nullar, during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-Ilocos Region in San Fernando City, La Union on Tuesday, said that of the total amount, PHP199.5 million was distributed in 2022 and benefitted 811 drivers and 4.3 million commuters.

She said disbursement of the fund allocated for 2023 is ongoing, and to date has benefited about 911 drivers and 3.2 million passengers.

“Service contracting program is a performance-based financial assistance given to operators or drivers on top of their farebox collection,” she said.

The program is among the Marcos administration’s measures eyed to alleviate the public transport service sector.

Others are the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and the Fuel Subsidy Program.

PTMP is structured to provide modern, well-managed, and environmentally-sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators will have stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihoods while commuters will get to their destinations safely, comfortably, and quickly, Nullar said.

One component of the program is the industry consolidation, which ended last April 30.

Nullar said jeepney drivers and operators who are still not part of any consolidated transport groups can no longer use their units on the road, and are required to present show-cause order for their failure to consolidate.

On the other hand, the fuel subsidy program is aimed at providing relief to stakeholders to cushion the impact of increasing fuel prices.

The amount of subsidy varies, with tricycle drivers given PHP1,000; delivery riders, PHP1,200; traditional public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers or operators, PHP6,500; and drivers and operators of modern PUVs, PHP10,000.

Nullar said the amount has been extended to 5,081 out of the 6,379 total enrolled beneficiaries in the program as of May 31 this year.

She added LTFRB is currently scouting locations for satellite offices in Pangasinan to make the agency more accessible to stakeholders. (PNA)