MANILA, Philippines — Senator Nancy Binay criticized the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday over its lack of effort in the implementation of the Service Contracting Program which benefits public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
“Mahigit nang isang taong pinagkakaitan ng ayuda ang mga kapatid nating mga namamasada. The DOTr and the LTFRB are invisible, and have become the single-biggest job stranglers since the start of the pandemic. Bigyan naman sila kahit konting dignidad sana. Tinanggalan na ng pasada, pinagkaitan pa ng ayuda,” Binay lamented in a statement.
(PUV drivers have been neglected with aid for more than a year now. The DOTr and the LTFRB are invisible, and have become the single-biggest job stranglers since the start of the pandemic. Give them even a little dignity. They were restricted from operating and were deprived of assistance.)
The legislator was also dismayed over the non-prioritization of jeepney and bus drivers at the national and department levels.
Binay’s statement came after the Commission on Audit flagged the LTFRB’s utilization of only one percent or P59 million out of its P5.58-billion fund for the Service Contracting Program.
READ: LTFRB to suspend service contracting, free ride programs as Bayanihan 2 expires
Of the 60,000 target participants in the program, only 29,800 drivers were registered as of 2020.
READ: 14,131 drivers get P860M for contracted services
Binay noted that LTFRB’s negligence is unacceptable.
“Di katanggap-tanggap ang ginagawang panggigipit at pagpapabaya ng LTFRB. Yung P5.58 billion para sa Service Contracting Program, na dapat pantawid-gutom ng mga pamilya na nasa transport sector, would have helped thousands of families who struggle to make ends meet during these hard times. If the DOTr and LTFRB have their hearts in the right place, di nila matitiis na makita ang mga jeepney driver na nagmamalimos sa kalsada,” Binay said.
(LTFRB’s negligence is unacceptable. The P5.58 billion for the Service Contracting Program, which could have been used to feed drivers’ families, would have helped thousands of families who struggle to make ends meet during these hard times. If the DOTr and LTFRB have their hearts in the right place, they cannot stomach seeing jeepney drivers begging on roads.)
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