PUV service contracting to provide P1,800 daily for jeepney drivers, says DOTr

Traditional jeepney drivers who will take part in the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) service contracting program (SCP) may take home at least P1,800 a day, according to the Department of Transportation (DoTr).

DoTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor, during a hearing of the Senate PROTECT Committee, on Monday said at least 36,000 traditional jeepney drivers are expected to benefit from the program, which will begin on April 15 and will run for the next two weeks.

"The service contracting program was initially launched in 2020. It will adopt a similar approach, but for this instance, it will be implemented through a net service contracting program," Pastor told the Senate committee.

Jeepney drivers are reeling from the rising fuel prices linked to the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict, with their current take-home pay plunging to P200 to P300 per day.

Under the SCP, Pastor said the DoTr estimated a daily gross income of around P5,000 for the contracted drivers. However, some expenses, including the 20% discount for passengers, fuel costs, and boundary, will be deducted from the pay.

"The net take-home pay of the driver is P1,800," Pastor said.

According to the DoTr, the contracted drivers will ply 828 high-density routes nationwide, of which 545 were in Metro Manila.

The program will also subsidize bus operators and drivers for P100 per kilometer, benefitting 50 operators, 500 bus units, and 300,000 daily passengers using the EDSA Busway alone.

For jeepneys, modern units will be paid P40 per kilometer, while traditional units will be given P30 per kilometer.

Over the weekend, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the DoTr has requested a P5 billion additional budget to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to expand and extend the service contracting program.

"Yes, we received the request. We need to find sources," DBM Acting Secretary Rolando Toledo told the Senate panel.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week announced the PUV service contracting program as the country continues to feel the impact of the higher global prices due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Marcos said the service contracting program would be implemented during off-peak hours to ensure that commuters would have public transportation even outside the rush hours. –NB, GMA News