Senator Kiko Pangilinan on Sunday said he wants to extend the validity of funds under the Bayanihan 2 law from June 2021 to December 31, 2021 following reports of low utilization of money appropriated to assist transport sector workers displaced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“May perang nilaan ang Kongreso para sa ating mga jeepney drivers tapos nakikita natin silang namamalimos sa kalye. Mali yan. Gamitin na ang pondong nilaan para sa kanila,” he said.
A progress report by the Department of Transportation showed that only P40 million has been utilized out of the P5.58 billion, or less than one percent of the total budget set aside for the Service Contracting Program, which aims to provide income to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who lost livelihood due to the lockdown.
Republic Act 11519, which extended the availability of appropriations under Bayanihan 2, provides that the budget for programs, projects, and activities, including Service Contracting, shall be available for release, obligation, and disbursement until June 30 or in less than two months.
The Service Contracting Program was designed to hire PUV operators and drivers who lost their routes after transportation was limited due to the lockdown.
Under LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-079, drivers of modern jeepneys should be paid P800 a day, while bus drivers should get P1,200, if the threshold for kilometers traveled were met.
If not, the kilometer rate — which was amended in April — is at P45.50 for bus drivers and P27 for modern and traditional jeepney drivers.
Pangilinan said PUV drivers are now bearing the brunt of the inefficiencies of government agencies tasked to implement the program.
“Para sa kanila ang pera, kailangang makaabot sa kanila nang may makain at pang-tustos ang pamilya,” he said.
Pangilinan said the proposed extension of the funds validity until December 31 will give the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to systematize and speed up the rollout the program.
Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)
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