DOTr says more than 1.8M free rides given to health workers, APORs

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has already given a total of 1,805,564 free rides to health workers, and other authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) as of September 20, 2021.

DOTR and LTFRB is looking to add more routes for the free ride program

The free rides to health workers, and APORs are part of the LTFRB’s Service Contracting Program (SCP) that was first launched last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The said program was halted last July 2021 as Republic Act 11494, also known as the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, was only effective until June 30.

The DOTr relaunched the free rides scheme last September 13, and a budget of Php 3 billion was allotted for the program by the General Appropriators Act 2021. The LTFRB shared that the SCP was able to cater to health workers and APORs in various parts of the country. More than 1.8 million free rides were offered in the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, Region 4-A, Region 4-B, Region 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, the Caraga Region, and Cordillera Administrative Region.

The two government agencies intend to further expand the reach of the free ride program to other parts of the country. The LTFRB said that it is looking to add more routes by next week.

More than 1.8 million free rides have already been registered

On the other hand, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III is encouraging PUV operators and drivers to sign up for the SCP. The government’s SCP follows a salary-based payment instead of a boundary-based system. This means that SCP allows PUV drivers to earn based on the kilometers they traveled. The LTFRB has its own system on how to track the total distance covered by PUV drivers.

“The program provides for operators and drivers an opportunity to earn based on the number of trips they run per week and make their public utility vehicle (PUV) operations sustainable whether they have passengers or none,” said LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III.

The SCP also gives drivers and operators additional incentives based on the number of completed trips every week.

“Sa pamamagitan naman ng SCP nabibigyan ng insentibo ang mga drayber at operator base sa bilang ng kanilang nakumpletong biyahe kada linggo, may sakay man silang pasahero o wala,” the LTFRB said.

(Under the SCP, drivers and operators will be given incentives based on the number of trips they have completed whether they have passengers or otherwise.)

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