100,000 PUV operators to get cash subsidy

by Neil Jayson Servallos (The Philippine Star), 17 Nov 2020

MANILA, Philippines — More than 100,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) operators will receive cash subsidies from the government this week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced yesterday.

LTFRB Metro Manila director Zona Tamayo said the subsidy program, which is under the Bayanihan 2, seeks to provide P6,500 to each PUV operator.

“The amount can double if they have two PUV units,” Tamayo said at a press briefing.

A breakdown provided by the LTFRB showed that around 178,000 PUV units were included in the cash subsidy program. The number is composed of about 120,000 jeepneys, 21,998 buses, 24,374 UV Express units, 10,188 Filcabs, 1,259 mini buses and 426 point-to-point shuttles.

The LTFRB said the program requires a funding of at least P1.1 billion, including a contingency budget for service charges and additional beneficiaries.

The transport regulator targets to start distributing the financial assistance to PUV operators this week, Tamayo said.

Tamayo said the agency has released P716 million to 110,281 PUV operators under the direct cash subsidy program of the government during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said the amount is around 61 percent of the total cash subsidy for PUV operators, which means about 39 percent has yet to be distributed nationwide.