The LTFRB started the third phase of its free transport program last April. (Photo from Radyo Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — As of June 20 ,over 71 million passengers have benefited from the third phase of the Service Contracting Program of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the LTFRB gave the exact figure as 71,222,260 passengers availed of the third phase of the free ride program.
The third phase started in April in line with the directive of Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade to provide transport assistance to the public, especially medical frontliners and other essential workers, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the continued rise of fuel prices.
The LTFRB assured that drivers and operators had been given incentives based on the number of trips they could complete weekly, even with just a few passengers or not at all.
The program is available in several regions:
- Metro Manila (EDSA Busway Carousel)
- Ilocos Region
- Cagayan Valley
- Central Luzon
- Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon)
- Mimaropa (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan)
- Western Visayas
- Central Visayas
- Eastern Visayas
- Zamboanga Peninsula
- Northern Mindanao
- Davao Region
- Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos City)
- Caraga
- Cordillera Administrative Region
“DOTr aims to help provide a source of livelihood to our operators and drivers, deliver assistance to our countrymen, and provide them with reliable and safe public transportation,” the LTFRB said in Filipino.
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