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LTFRB vows to fast-track payment for EDSA Carousel operators
By JON VIKTOR D. CABUENAS,GMA NewsThe Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has committed to fast-track the payment to the bus operators of the EDSA Carousel and make this up to date by the end of the month, following the weeks of delay.
According to LTFRB Chairperson Atty. Cheloy Garafil, she met with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista earlier on Monday to address payment issues involving the EDSA Bus Carousel.
“Sa amin naman sa LTFRB, patuloy namin na pabibilisan ang pagbabayad sa ating mga operators sa EDSA Carousel program,” she said in a statement released to reporters via mobile message.
(For us in the LTFRB, we will continue to fast track the payment to the operators of the EDSA Carousel program.)
Garafil said that when she first entered the LTFRB two weeks ago, bus operators had not yet received the payment for the sixth week of the program when it was already on its 13th week.
“Agaran kong pina-fast track ang pagbabayad kung kaya ngayon, makaraan ng dalawang linggo, kami ay nagbabayad na hanggang week 10. Nangako kami na lalo pa naming paiigtingin ang pagpoproseso ng kanilang bayad upang maging updated ang bayarin sa pagtatapos ng buwan ng Hulyo,” she said.
(I immediately ordered the payments to be fast-tracked which is why after two weeks, we are now paying week 10. We vowed that we will further hasten the processing of the payments for this to be updated by the end of July.)
Under the program, the government hires buses to provide free rides to commuters. The gross contract per kilometer for public utility buses, tourist buses, and mini buses was increased to P84.00 from P82.50 previously, and to P54.00 from P52.50 for consolidated modern and traditional jeepneys and UV Express units as of April 2022.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier this month extended the free rides
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Bautista, however, said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will first have to secure P1.4 billion in additional funding for the free rides to continue until the end of the year.
Moving forward, Garafil said bus operators have already committed to deploy the maximum number of units especially during rush hours, as only 200 buses are deployed during the said times versus the 440 needed.
She said Bautista also committed to look into the possibility of putting up a terminal in Monumento, Caloocan City which will serve as a staging and resting area for bus drivers.
“Ito ay makakatulong upang may sapat na bus at agaran nitong matugunan ang anumang pagdami ng tao sa mga istasyon,” she said.
(This will be helpful to ensure that there are sufficient buses and this will address any increase in the number of passengers in stations.)
Garafil also said officials are looking at providing facilities in bus stops to make it more comfortable for passengers during the rainy season.
She said they are also trying to address concerns over high petroleum prices and the use of the busway.
“Kami ay nalulugod sa ganitong pag-uusap upang masubukan namin na mahanapan ng solusyon ang lahat ng hinaing. Ipagpapatuloy namin ang ganitong mga diyalogo sa aming mga stakeholders upang sama-sama namin maiangat ang ng public transport sa ating bansa para sa lahat ng ating mananakay,” she said.
(We welcome these discussions to try and find solutions for all the issues raised. We will continue these dialogs with stakeholders to raise the quality of public transport across the country for all commuters.)—AOL, GMA News