PUJ operators to get employment aid

CEBU, Philippines - Jeepney operators in Cebu City who will be affected by the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system are set to undergo an employment assistance program.

 The City Council has already authorized Mayor Michael Rama to sign on behalf of the city government a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Transportation and Communication and the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority for the assistance program and other means of livelihood to the jeepney drivers and other individuals that may be displaced by the BRT project.

 The introduction of high quality buses operating on a dedicated bus lane will mean that some jeepney routes would be taken out by 2018.

 There would be 2,614 jeepney drivers (1,307 jeepney units) to be affected by the BRT implementation, as well as 912 operators, 1,191 franchises and 22 routes.

 In order to mitigate the possible negative impact, the Cebu-BRT project has introduced a component on employment assistance and skills training (EAST) program to be provided to the affected public utility jeepney operators, drivers, conductors and their family late this year or early next month.

 Other identified measures are: helping operators to move to other franchise routes including feeder routes to the BRT; offering existing transport operators the opportunity to be involved in service contracts for the BRT service; and assisting industry workers to find employment within the new bus system.

 “This early gesture will enable these industry stakeholders to adjust to the new project, provide early options for alternative income, and also serve as a meaningful sign of good will to the stakeholders,” part of the agreement read.

Based on the MOA, DOTC, as an implementing agency, will provide funds for the EAST amounting to nearly P14 million.

 The amount will be deposited to the TESDA Trust Fund over the next 10 months, which was based on the estimated cost of P15,000 each for 933 participants. The funding for the TESDA program will come from the Special Vehicle Pollution Control Fund which is a component of the Motor Vehicle Users Charge collected from annual vehicle registration fees.

 The DOTC is mandated under Executive Order No. 125 to impose appropriate measures so that technical, economic and other conditions for the continuing economic viability of the transportations and communication entities are not jeopardized and do not encourage inefficiency and distortion of traffic patronage.

 The TESDA, on the other hand, would provide the highly-qualified training institutions that will conduct and administer training of the selected trainees based on the identified training programs and qualifications, including the tools and equipment to be used.

 Also, it will facilitate the assessment of the trainees and provide certificates, as well as develop and maintain database for monitoring and tracking of training activities of graduates including their employment status.

 The city government, for its part, would assist the DOTC in the identification of participants to the training program and those who desire to undergo school certification through Alternative Learning Systems, among others.

 The BRT project corridor is about 23 kilometers long from Bulacao to Talamban, including the South Road Properties. The system is expected to carry 330,000 passengers when it opens. — (FREEMAN)