The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has committed to provide at least P30,000 worth of in-kind assistance for jeepney drivers affected by the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

DOLE Secretary Bienvenido E. Laguesma said the livelihood initiative refers to the "enTSUPERneur," which involves rice retailing, variety store and food stall establishment, animal raising, agricultural input provision, and tailoring.

“Itong taon na ito, mayroon pong naka-lineup na 1,500 transport workers na nagnanais ding makakuha, na habang nagnanais silang sana tuloy-tuloy ang kanilang talagang pangunahing hanapbuhay, ay matulungan natin, magabayan natin na mayroon silang alternatibong pagkakakitaan (This year, there are already 1,500 transport workers on the waiting list who also want to get jobs, thus, if they wish to keep their main employment, we may help them and guide them in getting an additional source of income),” Laguesma said.

Laguesma also noted that more than 4,500 transportation workers have received assistance totaling around P123 million.

In addition to the P30,000 in-kind assistance from "enTSUPERneur," the livelihood package also covers materials, inputs, and market linkages.

Laguesma stated that various government entities are working jointly to pool resources for the program in regards to the issue of whether the "enTSUPERneur" program could handle the estimated 30,000 drivers and operators who disregarded the PUVMP's consolidation mandate.

“Mayroon din nga pong direktiba ang ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. na mag-converge ang mga departamento na mayroong resources na pwedeng pagsama-samahin at matulungan po yung mga apektadong manggagawa (President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has also issued a directive to consolidate departments with resources that can be pooled to assist the affected personnel),” he said.

Meanwhile, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has also advised individuals who may be displaced by the PUV modernization to use its free training program to assist them in starting a new profession.