DAVAO CITY — The city government will give P11,880 each to Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers whose livelihood is affected by the social distancing mandate due to the coronavirus disease 2019 ((COVID-19) pandemic.
In a live interview over city government-owned radio station 87.5 DCDR, Mayor Sara Duterte said the city will enroll all affected jeepney drivers in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Sara said she has already talked with TUPAD spokesperson Norman Baloro who will be the one to create a master list of all the drivers in the city.
She said she knows the jeepney drivers will be greatly affected by the advisory of the city government to implement social distancing because it will mean fewer passengers will be allowed inside the vehicles.
“They have incurred some losses and we need to do something to compensate for their losses,” she said.
Sara said all affected jeepney drivers will receive a salary of P11,880 for a month for driving their jeepneys.
“I have already advised Sir Baloro that the work of the drivers will be driving. They will not be assigned to other forms of work and will continue on driving their jeepneys but observing social distancing,” she said.
The mayor said as of the moment, the city government is consolidating the number of affected drivers.
TUPAD is a program of the DOLE to give emergency employment to displaced workers. The funding has already been downloaded to the city government.
Earlier this week, 502 vendors of the Roxas Night Market were enrolled in the TUPAD program and have started working.
A total of P5.9 million has been allocated for the affected vendors after Sara suspended the operation of the Roxas Night Market indefinitely to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The 502 vendors are currently working under the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CRNRO), improving Roxas Avenue by cleaning and painting as well as planting trees.
March 18, 2020 – Wednesday 6:03 PM by
FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA