The free ride service in over 140 routes in Metro Manila under the Service Contracting Program (SCP) Phase 3 will end by June 30, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
DOTr and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the free ride service in 118 routes ended last June 16 and those in 28 more routes will conclude by June 30.
The DOTr said the SCP Phase 3 with a P7-billion budget under the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA) has been fully utilized.
However, the free ride on the Edsa Busway Carousel will continue until July 31, 2022. This operates from 4 a.m. . until 11 p.m.
As of June 21, LTFRB said, a total of 203.6 million passengers benefited from the free ride services under SCP Phase 3, with 65,256 onboarded public utility vehicles (PUV) and 2,197 onboarded corporation and cooperatives.
The government has spent a total of P15.6 billion for the SCP which is complemented by the provision of free rides through the Libreng Sakay program.
The SCP was first implemented in November 2020 under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act with a total fund of P5.58 billion. It was meant to provide temporary livelihood to displaced transport workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program was continued last September with a P3-billion budget and in April 2022 with funds of P7 billion.
The latest implementation of the program was included in the GAA for the fiscal year 2022 to ensure the “efficient and safe” operations of PUVs, provide financial support to transport operators and workers, and sustain support to Filipino workers and commuters.
DOTr has targeted the SCP Phase 3 to be implemented until December 2022, or until all the funds allotted are exhausted, LTFRB said.
The SCP intends to sustain the mobility needs of the riding public by ensuring the efficiency and reliability of service, complemented by the provision of free rides.
It also aims to provide financial support to transport service providers and workers through a performance-based payout system.
Under the program, PUV operators and drivers are paid by the LTFRB based on the maximum number of trips made per week, with or without passengers, and in compliance with agreed-upon performance indicators. – Myla Iglesias
