June 07, 2022
THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Davao recorded over three million ridership under the Service Contracting Program (SCP) as of June 6, 2022.
Based on the data given by LTFRB-Davao to SunStar Davao, they have recorded 3,791,250 commuters in Davao Region that were serviced by 650 public transportation vehicles under the SCP.
Of this, 751,602 ridership came from the Net Service Contracting via 300 units of traditional public utility jeepney (TPUJ) plying 20 routes, and five units of traditional utility van express (TUVE) plying one route.
The remaining 3,039,648 ridership account for the Gross Contracting or Libreng Sakay program through 226 units of public utility buses (PUB) plying 21 routes and 119 units of TUVE under eight routes.
Aside from drivers and operators of public utility vehicles, the Libreng Sakay program also benefitted health care workers and authorized persons outside of residence, including individuals working in inter-regional areas, by offering fare-free commutes.
“The Service Contracting Program aims to help the operators and drivers whose livelihoods were affected by Covid-19 pandemic and the continued fuel price hike. Through this program, the government supports the on-boarded operators and drivers based on the number of trips they have rendered per week,” LTFRB-Davao said in a statement on June 3.
Under the Net Service Contracting, transport operators of TPUJ and TUVE are given a P28 ‘ayuda’ for every kilometer while PUB and TUVE under Gross Contracting will receive P84 and P54 respectively for every kilometer run.
This is the third phase of the Service Contracting Program of LTFRB implemented nationwide under Republic Act No. 11494 or the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act in November 2020 and extended by September 2021 under Republic Act No. 11518 or the General Appropriations Act. ICM