Transport group recommends transfer of fare discount funds to PUV modernization budget

Transport group Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) on Tuesday suggested transferring the funds intended for fare discounts to the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

LTOP president Orlando Marquez said he made the recommendation during his recent talk with  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chief Teofilo Guadiz III and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista regarding the fare discount.

"Ang aming rekomendasyon — napakaliit kasi 'yung binibigay sa public transport — idagdag na lang sa gastusin doon sa equity, doon sa public transport, para madagdagan 'yung makapag-modernize," he said at a televised public briefing.

(Since the subsidy given to public transport is small, our recommendation is to just add the budget to the the equity of public transport so more units will be modernized.)

He added that the funds can also be used for the rehabilitation of old jeepneys so they could pass the current government standards.

The PUV fare discount was pushed in place of free rides in the EDSA Bus Carousel, which ended on December 31, 2022.

According to the Department of Transportation (DOtr), it will pay PUV drivers and operators every week or two under the program.

The PUV fare discount may last for only six months because of their limited budget of P1.285 billion under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and P875 million under unprogrammed funds, it added.

Fares in traditional jeepneys will revert to P9 — the same as the fare before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and before the fare hike was implemented.

Transport fees for modernized jeepneys will be at P11 while bus fares will be reduced by P3 to P4. UV Express rates, however, are still being studied.

The fare discount will initially be implemented in Metro Manila in April. —KBK, GMA Integrated News