LTFRB says it has released P716M in PUV cash subsidies

P716 million in direct cash subsidies for public utility vehicle operators has been released as of Monday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said Wednesday.

LTFRB Officer-in-Charge Zona Russet Tamayo told GMA News that the amount covered operators of about 110,000 buses, P2P buses, jeepneys, minibuses, and UV Express and Philcab units.

Under the Bayanihan To Recover As One act, those who are part of critically impacted businesses in the road sector will receive a cash grant of P6,500 across the board. The total amount allocated for this purpose is P2.6 billion.

“Yung funding po nito, specifically po na inilagay po sa batas ng Bayanihan 2 yung critically-impacted. That is why po mga operators po ang ating na-target at route-based nga po dahil hindi nga po sila nakabiyahe kaagad nga po because of the IATF health protocols din,” Tamayo said.

An additional 1,043 jeepney units were also able to ply their routes after the LTFRB opened eight additional routes today in Metro Manila. — BM, GMA News