Free rides for medical frontliners, APORs

CEBU, Philippines — With limited public transportation options, healthcare workers (HCWs) and authorized persons outside residence (APORs) can avail of the free rides starting yesterday.

Twenty-two public utility vehicles—five for HCWs and 17 for APORs—are fielded for five routes in Metro Cebu.

The routes are Naga City to UC Med, Talisay City to Parkmall via the South Road Properties (SRP), Talisay City to Parkmall via Natalio Bacalso Avenue, and Talisay City to SM Seaside via N. Bacalso Avenue.

HCWs and APORs need only to present their company I.D. to avail of the free service.

The free transportation is under the Service Contracting Program (SCP) of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) under the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act in recognition of their role as today’s modern heroes.

SCP aims to help public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators by providing them government subsidy.

DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade and LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III led the launching of the program at the SRP in Cebu City yesterday.

The free rides were piloted in Metro Manila last year.

Tugade said the program is aimed at helping essential workers in their commuting needs and somehow ease their financial burden amid the pandemic.

Moreover, modern jeep and bus drivers and operators who avail of the agencies’ SCP are entitled to receive P82 per kilometer (30 percent for the driver and 70 percent for the operator) as a subsidy from the government.

Drivers will also receive financial incentives.

“Naglabas kami recently para ma-enganyo sila pumasok at mag onboard sa system. P25,000 po ang binigay natin insentibo sa bawat driver na pumasok simula noong nakaraang taon hanggang April 30. Yung papasok po starting May 1 hanggang June 15, P20,000 po ang ibibigay bawat isa,” Delgra said.

LTFRB-7 Regional Director Eduardo Montealto, Jr. said they are targeting 56 public buses and tourist buses and 40 modernized jeepneys to be part of the said program. — KQD (FREEMAN)