LTFRB: No more free, discounted rides

MANILA, Philippines — There will be no more free or discounted rides for commuters due to the low funding allocation this year for the Service Contracting Program (SCP), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced yesterday.

An incentive program will instead be implemented for drivers and operators of public utility vehicles as the government earmarked funding of only P699 million for the SCP this year, according to the LTFRB.

“This is ongoing in a sense. The SCP will be unlike before when free rides are fully paid for. It will only be net contracting, based on guidance from the Department of Transportation and the LTFRB. This means qualified beneficiaries have a fare box, but they will be given incentives for every kilometer traveled,” LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said in Filipino.

Bolano said they are preparing guidelines for incentives and the onboarding of units next week.

He added that previous proposals to give discounts to commuters were not deemed feasible.

Under the 2023 General Appropriations Act, Bolano said the SCP should be coordinated and have a contract with local government units.

?“Target beneficiaries are public utility jeepneys and UV Express, and they are anchored on LGUs that are qualified based on parameters,” Bolano said.