'Mahapdi na sa bulsa': Service contracting for PUVs ends May 22, LTFRB says
photo: LTFRB
The last day of the national government’s service contracting program for land-based public utility vehicles (PUVs) will be on Friday, May 22, the Land Transportation Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.
LTFRB chairman Vigor D. Mendoza II, however, said that the support system for PUV operators and drivers will continue with the nationwide implementation of the P10 per liter discount subsidy.
It was not mentioned why the program will end but the LTFRB has been saying all along that the service contracting always depend on the availability of funds.
The service contracting program grants 20 percent fare discount to all regular passengers and a total of 40 percent discount to students, senior citizens and persons with disability.
The program was intended to assist the commuters for a fast and affordable mass transport system, and in this case, the last ride will be on Friday night.
Mendoza said they already advised all their personnel about the end of the program, “You are directed to inform all onboarded beneficiaries under the program to cease and discontinue all activities related to the implementation of the program upon the expiration of the aforementioned date and time.
He said the order covers conduct of QR code and manual scanning; provision of the 20% discount being implemented under the program; and, display, installation, or hanging of official LBSCP tarpaulins, signages, and other promotional or identification materials associated with the program.
Mendoza said he already tasked the LTFRB communications team to step up the information drive about the end of the program to fully inform the public, especially the commuters and beneficiaries of the program.