In a continued effort to soften the blow of the ongoing Middle East crisis among public transport operators nationwide, the Department of Transportation (DoTr) will begin providing financial support for bus and jeepney drivers, with rates ranging from P30 to P100 per kilometer.
In the new service contracting program, operators of traditional jeepneys will receive P30 per kilometer, with modern jeepneys and UV Express drivers being paid P40 per kilometer. Meanwhile, bus units will be given a P100 per kilometer compensation, the DoTr said.
The transportation agency has already reserved an initial P1 billion for funding of the project, which is intended for a run of only two weeks, with P200 million allocated for maritime transportation and P800 million will be provided to road-based transport vehicles.
However, DoTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez said that while the initial P1 billion is enough to sustain the program for two weeks, approval of additional funding requests and more demand can help expand the allocation and may extend the service as well.
Payments utilized under the program will be expedited, giving drivers the chance to receive payments expected within three to five days, unlike the previous disbursement system, where processing alone could take several weeks to months.
Currently, the service contractualization will only cover route-based public transportation services, including buses, jeepneys, UV Express, and carousel buses, with taxis not yet eligible for the program.
In order to monitor each vehicle that will be given assistance, the transportation department will utilize a combination of a manual verification system and a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based tracking system, ensuring that each vehicle has traveled the actual kilometers needed for compensation.
Units that use GPS devices can be automatically tracked for verification, and will allow a faster process for payments under the contractual scheme. However, drivers and operators will have to pay a P500 fee for the service—a fee coordinated on by the DoTr and GPS providers.
Vehicles without a GPS system are subject to manual monitoring and validation, which will be led by field personnel and coordinated with agencies, including the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
This dual system is intended to ensure coverage across all beneficiaries while at the same time slowly transitioning into a full digital monitoring process, Sec. Lopez said.
“It is better that you have a GPS because first, it will speed up the payment of your service contracting program. Second, it helps prevent corruption,” he adds.
Written by Francis Santos, Insight PH
Francis Santos, Insight PH is a dedicated campus journalist and contributor. Their insightful writing sparks meaningful conversations and keeps the community informed.
