ILOILO – The free rides on modernized jeepneys are set to return next year.
According to Rizal Alido, president of the Iloilo City Alliance of Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative (ICAODTC), Phase 3 of “Libre Sakay” will resume in the third quarter of January.
“Libre Sakay”, a Service Contracting Program (SCP) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB, aims to help the transport sector affected by the coronavirus disease health crisis.
Alido said only modernized jeepneys are joining the third phase in compliance with DOTR’s modernization program.
In Western Visayas, the participating groups are:
* ICAODTC – Jaro CPU-Ungka to Iloilo City and vice versa – 28 units;
* Alliance of Provincial Operators and Drivers Transport Cooperative (APODTC) – Cabatuan to Iloilo City and vice versa and San Joaquin to Iloilo City and vice versa – 65 units;
* Metro Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative (MITSC) – San Miguel to Iloilo City and vice versa – 27 units;
* Calaparan-Iloilo Transport Service Cooperative (CITSC) – 15 units;
* Pontevedra-Roxas City UV Express Transport Cooperative in Roxas City – eight units; and
* Panay Land Transportation Cooperative in Roxas City – 52 units.
Bus units of the Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI) will also join “Libre Sakay.”
Alido said the national government allocated up to P6 billion for “Libre Sakay” Phase 3, and LTFRB is pushing for an additional P4 billion.
Alido has yet to determine how much budget is allotted to Region 6.
“Libre Sakay” Phase 3 would be longer compared to Phase 2.
It may run from January 2022 to June 2022.
The free rides would cater to authorized persons outside residence (APORs), but they can also board other passengers.
The mode of payment to drivers would also be the same; Land Bank of the Philippines directs it to the cooperatives’ accounts.
Alido thanked DOTr and LTFRB for the program.
“Two hundred percent gid nga nakabulig. Nakabayad kami sang utang namon sa bangko, nakapa-sweldo kami sang mga tawo namon. May reserve fund pa kami. We encourage DOTr nga sige-sigehon na lang ang programa,” said Alido.
A P170 million budget was allotted in Libre Sakay Phase 2 which ran from Sept. 16 to Oct. 23 this year./PN
