DAGUPAN CITY – Various transport groups and cooperatives in Region 1 have expressed their gratitude to President Duterte for the implementation of the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
In an open letter addressed to President Duterte, the transport groups cited the remarkable improvement the government programs had brought out in their service as experienced by their passengers.
The transport groups stressed that the government programs paved the way for the use of air-conditioned PUVs, employment of well-trained drivers and the ‘free ride’ experience for the benefit of the riding public.
Some of the representatives and the transport groups with which they were associated with who initiated the thank you letter to the President were: Petronillo Castillo (Lingayen Dagupan Transport Service Cooperative), Manuelito de Vera (Tayug Pangasinan Transport Cooperative), Benjamin Navarro (Pangasinan Group TC), Roy Gutierrez (New Bayambang Express TC), Pio Soriano (La Union Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative), Manuel Bumanglag (Bonuan Transport Incorporated), Engr. Elmer Acapuyan (Central Ilocos TSC), Bonifacio Agliam (Laoag-Bacarra-Pasuquin Transport Group Incorporated), Redentor Vicenter (Ilocos TC), Norberto del Prado III (Pangasinan Express TC), Teresita de Guzman (Mangatarem-Aguilar-Lingayen-Alaminos Dagupan TC), and Jessie Quiroz (Dagupan City Bonuan Loop TSC).
“Sa programang ito, napaganda namin ang serbisyo sa aming mga pasahero. Naging mas komportable ang mga mananakay at nabigyan ng maayos na training ang aming mga drivers. Binigyan din sila ng karagdagang benepisyo sa PhilHealth, SSS and Pag-IBIG,” the group said in the letter.
The group said their families benefited from this government program.
Transport group said there were many challenges faced by the transportation industry such as rising prices of oil and goods, increase in vehicular traffic, and lockdowns caused by the pandemic.
Still the group is optimistic that the next administration would continue the modernization and free ride programs that have been a big help to them and their families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The free ride program, which is under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) Service Contracting Program (SCP), is already on its Phase 3 in Region 1.
According to a report gathered by the Philippine Information Agency, from April 13 to May 31, 2022, some 2,082,401 healthcare workers (HCW) and authorized persons outside of residence (APOR) in the region have already benefited from the program.