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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Misleading': LTFRB belies reports saying it used only 1% of PUV drivers' 'ayuda' funds

'Misleading': LTFRB belies reports saying it used only 1% of PUV drivers' 'ayuda' funds

Published Aug 18, 2021 04:41 pm

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has labeled as "misleading" the news reports saying that only a measly 1 percent of its P5.56-billion fund for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic ended up being distributed.

Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers queue up to register under the Service Contracting Program of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Nov. 26, 2020. Drivers stand to receive additional income from the government amid the ongoing pandemic under the program. (Photo from LTFRB)

The Commission on Audit (COA) recently flagged the LTFRB after finding out that it only used around P59 million or 1.07 percent of the total allocated funds for the agency’s Service Contracting Program (SCP). The program was meant to provide additional income or "ayuda" to the members of the beleaguered transport sector.

However, the LTFRB clarified that the one percent utilization rate mentioned in the 2020 COA report only covers the implementation month of December or at least a month after the actual funds were downloaded to the agency.

"To set the records straight, with the actual funds downloaded to LTFRB only in November 2020, the Service Contracting Program was immediately implemented to incentivize PUV drivers and operators who were given permission to operate during the COVID-19 pandemic," the LTFRB said in a statement on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

The LTFRB added that it was also only in December last year when the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between them and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) was signed. The MOA governs the distribution of cash subsidies to beneficiaries.

"It is misleading to angle certain reports and columns that only 1 percent was used from the P5.56-billion funds for the Service Contracting Program, where in fact, the 1 percent utilization rate only covers the implementation month of December 2020, which is also the coverage/extent of the COA report that was released," it added.

The regulatory body also noted that at least P1.5 billion was released to the driver-beneficiaries nationwide as of June 30 this year and for the procurement of a systems manager.

According to the LTFRB, the funds that were released as cash assistance include the P4,000 initial payouts provided to 23,410 drivers; one-time onboarding incentives of P25,000 to 8,461 drivers; one-time onboarding incentives of P20,000 to 702 drivers; and the weekly payout received by 18,864 drivers.

Meanwhile, here is the disbursement breakdown by region as shared by the LTFRB:

• NCR - P899,283,017

• Region I - P30,880,623

• Region II - P22,700,504

• Region III - P66,521,375

• Region IV - P100, 976, 294

• Region V - P961, 133

• Region VI - P57,889,214

• Region VII - P14, 594,682

• Region VIII - P2,122,413

• Region IX - P21,065,854

• Region X - P28,938,937

• Region XI - P17,494,636

• Region XII - P81, 798,612

• CARAGA - P72,533,642

• CAR - P26,635,722

The agency added that it is in "close coordination" with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of funds amounting to P3.3 billion on the remaining account payables.

The LTFRB also vowed to help its mother agency, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), in its goal to improve the country's public transport system especially during this time of the pandemic.

Related Tags

Public Utility Vehicles misleading Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Budget operators 81821 Commission on Audit (COA) subsidy LTFRB Service Contracting Program drivers
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