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Manila Bulletin devider Business devider DOTr preps for transport demand surge

DOTr preps for transport demand surge

Published Jul 12, 2022 12:52 pm

With the expected surge in passenger demand in the opening of face-to-face (F2F) classes this year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is calibrating its existing land transport programs.

Hence, Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista directed Road Transport and Infrastructure Undersecretary Mark Steven C. Pastor, Railway Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Cheloy Garafil to continue implementing the Service Contracting Program (SCP) and Libreng Sakay Program, in addition to fast-tracking the rationalization of public transport routes.

The DOTr Secretary also directed the immediate release of P1,000 fuel subsidy to the target 617,806 qualified tricycle driver-beneficiaries as listed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

This is in addition to deploying all 550 buses in the EDSA Busway during rush hours, and providing equity subsidy as down payment for the acquisition of modern public utility vehicles (PUVs) under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Secretary Bautista is scheduling a meeting with the bus consortium operating the EDSA Carousel route and other concerned government agencies to ensure sufficient deployment of buses to accommodate increased passenger demand due to the F2F classes.

“We will coordinate our actions with concerned agencies such as the DepEd, CHED, MMDA, LTO, LTFRB, PNP, AFP-NCR, DILG, IACT and others not under the DOTr,” he announced.

According to various studies conducted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, therl probability of virus transmission in public transport will be low, as long as health and safety measures are in place, Bautista underscored.

This should allay fears of possible increase in COVID-19 incidence when F2F classes begin.

“We are also looking at accelerating the grant of franchise instead of just permits for buses on critical routes used by students such as Katipunan, Commonwealth, Recto Avenue,” Sec. Bautista added.

Related Tags

TRANSPORT SURGE WITH F2F CLASSES DOTR SECRETARY JAIME BAUTISTA DOTr
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