TACLOBAN CITY — Public utility vehicle (PUV) operators and commuters in Eastern Visayas are set to benefit from the government’s Service Contracting Program (SCP), which has been officially rolled out by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in the region.
Launched on April 27, the program provides financial assistance to participating drivers and operators to help cushion the impact of rising fuel prices while ensuring continued public transport operations without fare increases.
Under the scheme, qualified PUV units will receive fuel subsidies equivalent to a 100-kilometer daily operation, allowing drivers to sustain their routes despite fluctuating fuel costs.
Commuters using accredited modern PUVs are also entitled to a 20 percent fare discount on weekdays. Students, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities will continue to enjoy their existing statutory fare privileges on top of the reduced rates.
The LTFRB said the program is part of the national government’s efforts to protect both transport workers and passengers from the effects of volatile oil prices.
Nationwide, the Marcos administration has allocated P1 billion for the SCP, with P800 million earmarked for land transport and P200 million for maritime services. The initiative is expected to cover around 50,000 PUV units and benefit approximately 15 million passengers daily.
The agency also reminded commuters to report instances of overcharging, providing channels for complaints that should include vehicle details such as plate number, route, and fare paid.
Participating transport units are required to display official fare matrices and program signage to inform passengers of the applicable discounted rates as implementation continues across designated routes.
(BLUE REUGINE RUTHIELLE LIM NICOLAS, LNU STUDENT INTERN)
