LTFRB to expand service contracting program to jeepneys, UV Express

The  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday said it is set to expand the service contracting program to other modes of public utility vehicles in light of fuel price hikes.

At the Palace briefing, LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion said the coverage of the program will be expanded to include jeepneys, UV express and other transportation modes as its budget has increased from P3 billion in 2021 to P7 billion this year.

The program currently covers only drivers of public utility buses.

“Isusunod na natin ang ating service contracting program kasi these are  part ng sinasabi natin na basket of solutions to cushion the effect of fuel prices sa ating stakeholders partikular ang ating mga operators and drivers,” she said.

(We will work next on our service contracting program which we said is part of what we call the basket of solutions to cushion the effect of fuel prices to stakeholders particularly operators and drivers.)

“P3 billion lang po yung ating pondo noong 2021. Pero ngayon na P7 billion na yung ating pondo ay we ensure na isasama natin yung ating PUJ, UV Express at iba pang modes,” she added.

(We only had a fund of P3 billion in 2021. But now that we have P7 billion budget, we ensure that we will cover PUJ, UV Express, and other modes. )

Under the service contracting program, operators and drivers who participate in the government’s free ridership program will receive a one-time payout of P4,000 and weekly payments based on kilometers traveled per week, with or without passengers.—LDF, GMA News