The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has disbursed P1.1 billion in payouts for drivers under the Service Contracting Program (SCP).
The total amount disbursed was recorded on June 21, according to a media advisory.
“Included in the whole payout amount for drivers under the program is the P4,000 weekly payout and one-time onboarding incentives nationwide,” the advisory read.
The transport regulator also reminded drivers to “log-in to the LTFRB driver app every time they ply the roads to get additional weekly payout.”
The app is free for download and is available for Android phones. PUV drivers stand to receive an additional P7,000 if they log-in via the LTFRB’s Driver mobile application (app) for five days a week.
The SCP is part of the government’s efforts to provide assistance to drivers during the pandemic.
Under the DOTr’s SCP, participating PUV drivers will receive an onboarding incentive and a per kilometer fee to ferry medical frontliners, authorized persons outside of residence (APORs), and essential employees through the “Libreng Sakay” program.
For those joining the Free Ride initiative under the Service Contracting Program, the DOTr and the LTFRB have increased the amount of payouts from P46.80 to P82.50 per kilometer for buses, and P52.50 for jeepneys.
Aside from this, Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade noted that the government is also providing a scholarship program for drivers and conductors through a partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).
Called the DOTr-Tesda Tsuper Iskolar Program, the initiative aims to provide drivers and conductors, and their families with free skills training, skills assessment, and entrepreneurship training.
Tsuper Iskolar beneficiaries and their dependents will receive a regular stipend of P350 for the duration of the training sessions.
“This program will equip our drivers with skills and talents in different areas such as mechanics and troubleshooting, among others,” Tugade said.
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