The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Thursday bus drivers and operators have been receiving weekly payouts and a one-time incentive from the government through the Service Contracting Program (SCP).

In a statement, the LTFRB said it disbursed PHP156.7 million to bus drivers and operators as of May 20 with almost 90 percent of the amount allotted for buses plying the Edsa Busway.

“Umabot na sa 7,046,971 and ridership sa Libreng Sakay mula ika-29 ng Marso hanggang ika-19 ng Mayo, kasama na ang Libreng Sakay sa Edsa Busway (The ridership of the free ride program has reached 7,046,971 from March 29 to May 19. This includes the free rides at the Edsa Busway),” the LTFRB said.

In response to the allegation that only the operator of the Edsa Busway – the Metro Manila Consortium Corp. (MMCC) – has been getting payment from SCP’s free ride program, the LTRB released at least seven other bus companies that received similar incentives.

These include the Dela Rosa Transit Corp. that received PHP92,055; JAM Liner, Inc. (PHP564,943); Philippine Tourister, Inc. (PHP2,074,833); Bataan Transit & Laguna Starbus (PHP3,238,595); PAMANA Transit (PHP200,640); and Saint Rose Transit, Inc. and Laguna Starbus, whose weekly payouts are still undergoing audit.

Due to the sudden increase in public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators expressing to join the SCP, the LTRFB said more employees are being added to accelerate the processing of weekly payouts.

It also rejected claims that many operators and drivers have not received their payouts from the Department of Transportation’s and LTFRB’s Direct Cash Subsidy Program, noting that more than PHP1.017 billion in cash subsidy has been given away to 90,318 PUV operators.

The amount, it said, makes up 96.65 percent of the program’s disbursement rate.

“Linawin lamang po namin na ang PHP6,500 na subsidiya ay ibinibigay sa bawat PUV unit na hawak ng isang operator, kung kaya maaaring higit pa sa PHP6,500 ang makuha ng isang PUV operator (We wish to clarify that the PHP6,500 subsidy is given for each PUV unit owned and this is why PUV operators may receive a subsidy larger than PHP6,500),” the LTFRB said. (PNA)