Senator Grace Poe is calling for a legislative inquiry on the "dismal performance" of the government in implementing the service contracting program under the Bayanihan to Recover as One, or Bayanihan 2 law.
Poe recently filed proposed Resolution No. 727, which seeks clarification on the issues supposedly hounding the service contracting program for pandemic-hit public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and drivers and assess the capacity of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to carry this out.
The chairperson of the Senate public services committee previously called on the agency to speed up its implementation and payouts.
The Bayanihan 2 appropriated P5.58 billion for the service contracting program, where PUVs will be given subsidy based on performance and compliance to guidelines. It was downloaded to the LTFRB for implementation in November last year.
In the resolution, Poe noted that a "measly" P332.3 million of six percent of the total funding was only disbursed as payouts to PUV drivers as of May 12.
As of May 18, 12,371 drivers already received P4,000 as initial subsidy upon signing the service contract, while 2,933 received the P25,000 additional incentive for the drivers.
"If it is true that the service contracting program started on and assuming that all the 12,371 drivers are entitled to P 800 per day as salary, then the P 332.3 million disbursed as of May 18 was only enough to pay for 21 days," Poe said.
"Given the numbers above, there are clearly monumental delays in the distribution of payouts of the LTFRB," she said.
Poe also cited concerns from transport cooperatives on the delay of the payouts, with one group saying that it took them four months.
Some drivers also complained about inadequate payments. For instance, one jeepney driver who drove over 120 kilometers in one day received payouts for around 20 to 25 kilometers only, she said.
There were also glitches in the GPS tracking, resulting in discrepancies in kilometers travelled.
"Aside from the delayed and inadequate payments, there is also the issue of lengthy application process and added requirements," Poe also raised, citing the LTFRB's condition including franchise consolidation to quaiify for the service contracting program.
"At this rate, it highly unlikely that the LTFRB will be able to onboard their target 60,000 PUV drivers in the program," she added.
"The enactment of Bayanihan 2 was certified as urgent by the Office of the President last year and was immediately acted upon by both houses of Congress precisely because the assistance envisioned to be provided by the law is urgently needed by Filipinos...It is unfortunate, therefore, that the manner in which some programs under the law is being implemented does not reflect the same resolve and urgency," Poe lamented.
"The above grievances erodes the good intentions of the program and, inadvertently, adds to the sufferings of the sector it is created to assist. It is imperative that the causes of these complaints be identified to determine whether simply extending the validity of Bayanihan 2 will address the problems or if certain reforms are needed to ensure effective implementation," she pointed out.
Allocations under the Bayanihan 2 will expire on June 30.