The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has welcomed the country's economic managers' move to release P1 billion worth of cash aid to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in response to the continuous oil price hike in the country.
In a statement Monday, DOTr said the fund will be distributed as cash grants to qualified and bonafide PUV drivers for the remaining months of this year.
The agency said that qualified drivers will get the financial aid through the system already established by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) under the Pantawid Pasada Program.
"The Landbank of the Philippines shall disburse money straight to the cash cards issued to drivers," it said.
Calling the move "timely," DOTr also said it will be raising to the national government's pandemic task force the idea of approving "a significant increase" in the passenger capacity of public transportation as the National Capital Region and other parts of the country transition into more relaxed quarantine levels.
"The DOTr is one with the other government agencies to find means and measures that will help sustain the livelihood of affected drivers and operators in the transport sector especially during this time of the pandemic," the agency said.