Without income for a month, conductors start begging for alms on buses

Several bus conductors have taken to asking for alms after some buses were forced off the road amid the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila.

According to Darlene Cay's report on "24 Oras" on Monday, the bus conductors have been forced to beg for alms following the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's "libreng sakay" program for authorized persons outside of residence.

"Humihingi kami ng tulong, suporta. Labag man sa kalooban namin 'to pero wala eh, kapit talaga kami sa patalim. Gutom na pamilya namin," bus conductor Philip Elequin said.

"Saan kami kukuha ng pangkabuhayan ng pamilya namin? Tapos 'yong kumpanya namin wala namang suporta sa'min tapos wala namang programa 'yong gobyerno para sa'min," he added.

Bus operators said bus conductors had been excluded from the LTFRB's service contracting program, the reason why they have no earnings for over a month already.

"Bahagi rin kami ng transport sector. May mga pamilya rin kami, nagugutom," Edmel Salisad said.

Meanwhile, LTFRB chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III said while the bus drivers are the primary beneficiaries of the service contracting program, bus conductors are also included.

'Pag makatanggap na 'yong operator ng bayad galing sa free ride program ng service contracting, 'yong 30% ibibigay na doon sa mga driver na nakalista. The rest of the money, as I've said, will cover operating costs, which includes the payment of the conductors, kung mayroon," Delgra said.

Further, he said the LTFRB will investigate the bus conductors' concerns. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/NB, GMA News