Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade is urging drivers of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to register and participate in the “Service Contracting Program” being pushed by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The LTFRB is currently holding a general registration and orientation program for the Service Contracting Program at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Covered Basketball Court. This activity started last Tuesday, 25 November, and will run until 29 November 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

General registration and training for the service contracting program are simultaneously being held in different regions nationwide, such as in CARAGA, Regions 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11 and 12.

Under the Service Contracting Program, PUV drivers, whose livelihood is one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, may receive addition income..

“The sector of PUV drivers is one of the most hit hard by the pandemic, hence, we would like to help them recover. This Service Contracting Program is one of the programs under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, wherein we will assist the drivers to 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.” Secretary Tugade said.

“I am calling on our drivers to participate in this program, to enable the government to help them recover their lost income due to the pandemic. Please go to the Quezon City Circle and register. Please do not waste this golden opportunity,” added Secretary Tugade.

It may be recalled that the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act or “Bayanihan 2” has allotted some P5.58 billion to fund and make the “service contracting program a reality, and assist PUV drivers to gain additional income.

Under the service contracting program, the government will provide payouts for public transportation services where PUV operators and drivers will be given a performance-based subsidy according to vehicle-kilometers traveled and compliance with performance indicators.

According to the LTFRB, different rates per kilometers have been set by the Board for each kind of PUVs. Drivers or operators of traditional and modern public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will get P11 per kilometer while drivers or operators of passenger buses will get P23.10 per kilometer.

The “subsidy” or assistance for drivers is based on the sum total of the kilometers ran for the day. The subsidy would then be disbursed weekly to the drivers through the Land Bank of the Philippines.

This aims to aid in the everyday operational expense of drivers, such as gasoline, boundary, and other expenses to help them abide by the “quarantine protocols.”

PUV drivers who would like to join the program should present the original and photocopies of their professional driver’s license, a certificate signed by their operator that proves they are a designated PUV driver, two photocopies of their operator’s valid ID (showing both front and back) with three signatures, and a photocopy of the official receipt or certificate of registration of their designated PUV.

The driver-applicants must also comply with the health and safety protocols being implemented at the event site, such as accomplishing the Health Declaration and Contract Tracing Forms before entry, wearing of face shield and face mask, and the strict social distancing measure.