DOTr Will Implement 10% Fare Cut in Public Utility Vehicles

Good news to all commuters--the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is adding a 10-percent discount in public utility fare, according to Senator Grace Poe.

According to the solon, the additional discount is part of DOTr's commitment to apply "social-mitigating measures" that will help lessen the effect of tax reform on prices.

Section 82 of the Train Law states that minimum-wage earners and the poorest 50 percent of the population are eligible for a 10-percent discount of the authorized public utility fare.

"Siniguro natin sa ating interpelasyon ng budget na 'yung ipinangako mula doon sa TRAIN law na pagtulong ng gobyerno  (We made sure during budget interpellations that the government financial assistance promised under the TRAIN law [would be delivered>)," Poe said.

"Halimbawa, maliban pa sa mga nakukuhang discount ng mga student, mga minimum wage earner at mga senior citizen, mayroon pa dapat na nakapatong doon na 10 percent. So, kung 20 percent na sila noon, dapat 30 percent na; pumayag naman, yan ay i-implementa ng DOTr (For example, apart from the normal fare discounts for students, minimum wage earners and senior citizens, there should be an additional 10 percent discount. So if they already have a 20 percent discount before, then it should be 30 percent by now. The DOTr agreed to implement this)," she added.

Pantawid Pasada Program

 

Senator Poe also added that its fuel subsidy cards for jeepney drivers--which is another "social-mitigating measure" to help lessen the effect of tax reform on prices--hasn't been fully accomplished yet, since only half out of the 171,836 jeepney driver beneficiaries were said to receive them.

"Ang success rate nila, kung mayroon man silang nabigyan, parang 47 percent lamang so may kalahati pa talagang hind pa nakakatanggap(Their success rate for distribution is only around 47 percent, so more than half still have not received [fuel vouchers>)," Poe said.

"Marami namang isyu kasi diyan. 'Yung iba doon may mga jeep na hindi naman 'yung mismong operator ang nagmamaneho. Marami sa kanila either wala na dito sa bansang ito o ibinenta na nila pero ang papel ay hindi pa naayos (There are a lot of issues here. In some cases, those who drive the jeepneys are not the operators themselves. Most franchise holders are either out of the country, or the sale of franchise is not properly documented)," she added.

According to the government, the fuel subsidy will give an additional PHP20,514 or PHP1,709 per month for every driver-beneficiary this year, compared to the previous PHP5,000 subsidy last year.