Newly-appointed chairperson of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Atty. Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil and some of her colleagues take the EDSA Busway on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, as part of her inspection. (Photo from LTFRB)
MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday “promised” the EDSA Carousel bus operators to settle its backlog of payments before July ends.
“Ang promise naman namin sa kanila, before the month ends, i-u-update namin ‘yong bayad para wala na silang reason bakit hindi sila magpapadala ng maximum deployment ng [mga] bus ‘pag rush hour,” LTFRB Chairperson Cheloy Garafil told One News PH when asked regarding the status of payments for Edsa Carousel bus operators and drivers.
(We promised them that before the month ends, we will update their payment so they wouldn’t have a reason why they couldn’t have the maximum deployment of buses during rush hour.)
READ: Libreng Sakay: Bus drivers buried in debt unsure about payment
Garafil earlier stressed that upon starting her chair stint two weeks ago, the LTFRB had settled a four-week worth of payment backlog to operators amounting to P310 million.
“In a span of two weeks [at] mula no’ng tayo ay naupo [bilang LTFRB chairperson], na-settle po natin ‘yong four weeks [of payment backlog] or more than P310 million sa kanila. So, ngayon, ang backlog na lang po natin is mga 1 month na lang ang kulang,” Garafil said.
(In two weeks and ever since I started my term as LTFRB chairperson, we have already settled a four-week payment backlog or more than P310 million to them. So, as of now, we only have to pay roughly a month of payment.)
READ: After long wait, ‘Libreng Sakay’ bus operators paid P310M
In April, the LTFRB launched the “Libreng Sakay” under phase 3 of the Service Contracting Program, ending on July 31. — Iliana Padigos, INQUIRER.net intern