Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed that its earlier plan to give a fare discount to commuters will not push through. Instead, the agency will use the P1.2 billion budget to grant subsidies to some PUV drivers and operators.
The budget was initially intended to fund free rides for passengers using the EDSA bus carousel this year, but the agency thought of using the money to assist struggling drivers and operators instead.
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The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will determine which routes will be covered by the stimulus for drivers and the means of distributing it.
The DOTr said the distribution of cash assistance may start in May or June.
“Kung pasahero, napakaraming pasahero nyan. Millions tayong sumasakay sa land. Kung ibibigay natin yung discount, napaka ikling panahon lang, ubos na kaagad yun. Kaya nga siguro mas mabuti na napag usapan natin na instead of discount ang ibibigay natin, tutulungan natin ang mga drivers and operators doon sa may mga naluluging mga ruta,” DOTr Secretary Jimmy Bautista said Wednesday.
[Translation: There are a lot of passengers using land transportation. If we give the discount to them, it would be used up quickly. It was discussed and decided that it would be better to, instead of a discount, help drivers and operators plying routes suffering from losses.]
