STA. BARBARA, Pangasinan (PIA) – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the Ilocos region has disbursed P253.47 million from the accumulated General Appropriations Act (GAA), including the GAA Local Government Unit (LGU) assisted funds for 2022-2023, to ensure the efficient and safe operations of public utility vehicles.
The funding is part of the agency’s ongoing and continuing Service Contracting Program which aims to enhance public transportation services by offering financial assistance to transport operators and sustaining support for Filipino workers and commuters.
Since its inception, LTFRB-Region 1 Regional Director, Atty. Anabel Nullar said the program has benefited 1,722 drivers and 7,615,920 riders which significantly impacted the local transport sector.
“The Service Contracting Program is a performance-based financial assistance given to operators on top of their fare box collection,” explained Nullar during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas program of the Presidential Communications Office, through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), on Tuesday.
Virgilio Moises, a jeepney driver of the Mangaldan to Dagupan City route, is one of the beneficiaries of the program.
“Tumanggap ako ng P7,000 nitong mga nakaraang taon na nakatulong sa pang-gasolina sa aking pamamasada,” he shared in an interview with PIA, expressing his gratitude for the financial support he received from the program of LTFRB.
(I received P7,000 in recent years which helped cover my fuel expenses.)
Moises, 61 years old, has been a jeepney driver for 10 years to support his family.
In addition to the Service Contracting Program, other efforts of the LTFRB include the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and the Fuel Subsidy Program.
Nullar said the PTMP envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed, and environmentally sustainable transport sector where the drivers and operators will have a stable, sufficient, and dignified livelihood while the commuters will get to their destination safely, comfortably, and quickly.
One component of the program is the Industry Consolidation, which ended on April 30.
Based on their record, LTFRB Ilocos region has registered a 92.58 percent consolidation rate equivalent to 5,200 units.
“We have not issued any notice yet that traditional jeepneys are no longer allowed to operate. What we implemented with a deadline is the Industry Consolidation. All traditional jeepneys will continue to operate until we establish rules and guidelines regarding Fleet Modernization,” Nullar clarified.
She disclosed that currently, 24 transport service entities have taken the initiative to support the program and modernize their units, resulting in 384 units now in the Ilocos region.
Moreover, the Fuel Subsidy Program aims to offer relief to stakeholders, helping mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices.
Out of the total of 6,908 enrolled beneficiaries in the region, Nullar said 5,081 or 73.55 percent have received credited subsidies.
“We are now scouting for our mobile offices in Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan to bring our services closer to our stakeholders,” she stated. (JCR/AMB/JCDR/PIA Pangasinan)
