ILOILO City – Modernized jeepney and UV Express operators in Western Visayas could receive as much as P60,000 each in government financial assistance to keep their units running and prevent loan defaults as soaring fuel prices squeeze the public transport sector.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will provide qualified operators P20,000 per unit every month for three months, beginning September, to help cover amortization payments or operating expenses.
LTFRB Region 6 Chief Transportation and Development Officer Atty. Joscet Abellar said around 1,500 slots have been allocated by the agency’s Central Office for Western Visayas, including Negros Occidental and Bacolod City.
The assistance comes as public utility vehicle operators grapple with higher fuel costs triggered by the continuing security crisis in the Middle East and volatility in global oil prices.
To qualify, modernized jeepney and UV Express operators must have a valid Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC), provisional authority or special permit.
Their units must also be registered and insured. Operators belonging to cooperatives must secure a certificate of good standing, while applicants must have no pending cases related to their operations or management.
“Dapat ang applicants should have a valid CPC or provisional authority or special permit. Kinahanglan naka- rehistro ang ila mga units and kun cooperative dapat may ara ka sang gjnatawag nga certificate of good standing halin sa Office of the Transport Cooperative and wala ka sang pending case or ongoing case related to the management or operations,” said Abellar.
Applicants must also submit their units’ official receipt and certificate of registration (OR/CR) and proof of insurance.
Abellar stressed that the financial assistance is limited to modernized public utility vehicles and does not cover traditional jeepneys.
“Ang aton financial assistance valid only for our modern units and UV Express. Wala na diri nadala ang mga traditional. Ang assistance is 20,000 per unit ini at this time good for three months,” added Abellar.
LTFRB-6 has already started accepting applications. As of the latest count, the regional office had forwarded five to seven applications to the Central Office for further evaluation and approval.
Abellar clarified that LTFRB-6 will not directly release the money. Once approved, the Central Office will remit the assistance directly to the accounts of qualified Transport Service Entities (TSEs) or operators.
The financial assistance was approved following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to extend support to the public transport sector amid the security situation in the Middle East.
Under the program’s guidelines, registered and accredited TSEs will receive a fixed P20,000 per modern PUV unit each month to help pay existing loans.
Operators who have already fully paid for their units may still receive the P20,000 monthly assistance and use it for operational expenses.
The program will run for three months beginning September, or until the allocated funds are fully utilized.
The government said the assistance is intended to prevent foreclosure of modern PUV units and loan defaults by providing operators with cash support for their monthly debt obligations while ensuring the continued operation of public transportation services.
Nationwide, the program covers modernized jeepneys and UV Express units, as well as modern buses operating in Metro Manila.
The assistance comes on top of the existing P12-per-liter fuel discount for passenger jeepney and UV Express operators nationwide.
Earlier this year, the President also approved a P5,000 cash subsidy for PUV operators, along with other financial and livelihood assistance for transport workers affected by volatile global oil prices.
(With a report from Philippine News Agency)/PN
