Aspiring president Vice President Leni Robredo signed a covenant with the transport groups on Friday, April 22, with the goal to improve service contracting which she has been advocating during the pandemic.

"Matagal na nating sinusulong na mag-service contracting na, para swelduhan na lang. Yung mga drivers siguradong may sunud-sunod na kita (We have been pushing for service contracting so that drivers are paid. Their earning will be ensured)," Robredo said.

Contracting service was eventually rolled out when a total shutdown on the public transport happened, she said.

With the covenant signing, the Vice President said her intentions to improve service contracting will be close to reality if she wins the presidency.

"atutuwa ako na meron na tayong covenant, di ba? Yung covenant ay produkto siya ng mga pag-uusap natin (I'm glad that we have a covenant now, right? The covenant is the product of all our dialogues)," Robredo said.

Aside from service contracting, the pact also included provisions upholding the dignity of drivers and operators, ensuring their health and safety, providing clear access to benefits, and including them in decision-making processes.

However, she said, her commitment to the transport sector does not end on signing the covenant. The presidential aspirant promised that her administration will not settle on bringing back the pre-pandemic situation of the transport sector but pledged to improve it.

"Hindi natatapos sa covenant yung pangako namin para sa transport sector. Pero yung gusto ko lang natin ipahayag: hanggang may nakikita pa kayong puwede pa naming itulong o puwede naming ipangako na pag kami yung nabigyan ng pagkakataon mamuno sa ating bansa, ano pa yung ibang puwedeng magawa para tingnan yung transport sector bilang kabahagi ng pamamahala, kasi para sa akin, ganoon naman (Our promise does not end with the covenant. What I want to stress: as long as you see something we can help you with or commitment from us that if we are given the chance, what else can we do to ensure that the transport sector is part of governance, because for me, it should be done that way)," Robredo said.

She went on by saying that her administration will always be there for them and it will be one with their sector.

"Yung akin lang commitment sa inyo: nandito kami, kaisa niyo kami (My only commitment to you: is we are here, we are one with you)," she said.

"Alam ko na yung sektor ninyo, isa sa pinakatinamaan during the pandemic, na marami tayong puwedeng gawin para makaahon ulit kayo. Pero yung kailangan nating gawin para makaahon kayo, huwag na nating ibalik doon sa dati, huwag na tayong makuntento na maibalik lang 'yung sa dati lang, pero gawin natin: papaano pa natin aayusin saka paiigtingin na yung mga miyembro ng sektor n'yo, napo-protektahan (I know that your sector was one of the heavily-hit during the pandemic, that there are a lot to do for you to recover. But what we need to do for you to recover is not to go back to the past, let us not settle on just bringing back the past, but what we can do: how can we fix it and ensure that all members of the sector is protected)," she added.

The covenant signing with eight representatives of the transport sector was held in Quezon City.