A total of P3 billion will be disbursed to drivers and operators of public utility vehicles across the country throughout the second phase of the service contracting program.
The program would work similar to the previous SCP, with faster and “real time” payouts if members of the program have their own Landbank account, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chief Martin Delgra III said in a virtual relaunch of the SCP on Friday.
The program’s second phase provides incentives to member drivers and operators based on the kilometers their vehicle has traveled and compliance with performance indicators.
During the previous SCP, incentives were based on the maximum number of trips per week and other performance indicators.
While the second phase will have a program manager to oversee the proper disbursement of funds similar to the previous SCP, he said phase two would be monitored by other LTFRB personnel.
In Metro Manila, he said the new SCP would be rolled out in the Edsa Busway and monitored through the Center for PUV Monitoring System established at the LTFRB Central Office.
The budget for the new SCP—funded under the General Appropriation Act of 2021 (GAA 2021)—is smaller than the P5.5 billion SCP that ran under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2).
However, he said PHP3.38 billion is yet to be disbursed to participants of the previous SCP after the recent release of the funds from the Department of Budget and Management.
On Thursday, the LTFRB announced the resumption of the SCP to help the public transportation industry and the riding public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe challenged the DOTr to explain how it utilized the P9.5 billion Bayanihan 2 funds to alleviate the situation of pandemic-hit transport workers amid reports of huge underspending.
After inquiring from the Department of Budget and Management during Thursday’s Senate briefing, Poe learned that the entire P9.5 billion fund from Bayanihan 2 law for various programs of the DOTr has been fully released.
Of the amount, P5.58 billion was allotted to provide temporary livelihood to displaced drivers and operators through service contracting; P2.604 billion intended to assist the critically-impacted business in the transport industry; and P1.316 billion allocated to develop sidewalks and protected bicycle lanes, procurement of bicycles and related safety equipment.
