By Karen Joyce Villanda
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is giving free rides to authorized persons outside residence (APOR) using modern public utility jeepneys (MPUJ) under the agency’s Service Contracting Program (SCP).
This comes after a DOTr meeting on Sunday, a day after the announcement of the implementation of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in NCR Plus bubble areas (National Capital Region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal).
The department has tapped more than 1,500 modern jeepneys to give free rides to APOR within NCR Plus from March 29 to April 4, from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. via 44 selected routes:
1. Novaliches – Malinta via Paso de Blas
2. Bagumbayan Taguig – Pasig via San Joaquin
3. Fort Bonifacio Gate 3 – Guadalupe, Market Market (ABC)
4. Pandacan – L. Guinto
5. Quezon Avenue – LRT 5th Avenue Station
6. Cubao (Diamond) – Roces Super Palengke
7. EDSA Buendia – Mandaluyong City Hall via Jupiter
8. Divisoria – Gasak via H. Lopez
9. Punta – Quiapo via Sta Mesa
10. Boni Pinatubo – Stop & Shop
11. Boni (Robinson’s Complex) – Kalentong/JRC
12. Nichols – Vito Cruz
13. Filinvest City Loop
14. Alabang Town Center (ATC) – Ayala Alabang Village
15. Vito Cruz Taft Avenue – PITX Loop
16. Bagong Silang – SM Fairview
17. Malanday – Divisoria via M. H. Del Pilar
18. Eastwood, Libis – Capitol Commons
19. Gasak – Recto via Dagat-dagatan
20. PITX – Lawton
21. Alabang – Zapote
22. PITX – Nichols
23. PITX – SM Southmall
24. QMC Loop
25. Cubao – Sta Lucia (Pasig)
26. Rosario Junction – San Juan via Pinaglabanan, Ortigas
27. Rodriguez – BFCT
28. Blumentritt, Manila – Sta Quiteria, Caloocan
29. Guadalupe, Makati – FTI, Taguig via JP Rizal Ext.
30. Alabang, Muntinlupa – Buencamino, Muntinlupa
31. Alabang, Muntinlupa – Tunasan
32. Litex, Quezon City – Rodriguez, Rizal
33. Palmera, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan – Novaliches, Quezon City
34. Parang-Cubao (Cubao – Silangan, San Mateo, Rizal)
35. Munoz – Quiapo
36. Alabang – Calamba via SLEX
37. Balingasa, Balintawak – Muzon, San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan
38. Diego Cera Avenue, Las Piñas – Merville
39. Rodriguez (Sub-Urban) – SM North EDSA
40. Muzon Central Terminal, SJDM – Novaliches, Quirino Hwy
41. Baclaran – NAIA/Baltao
42. SSS Village – Cubao via Aurora
43. Malanday – Sta Cruz. via Huertas Oroqueta
44. Malanday – Pier South via McArthur Highway
Passengers must bring a valid ID to prove that they are APOR. Here’s the link to check if you are under the APOR category: http://bit.ly/TalaNgMgaAPOR
Under the DOTr’s Libreng Sakay Program, MPUJ drivers will be paid by the government at a rate of P46.87 per kilometer run under the SCP. This is higher than the regular operation of SCP since the drivers will not receive fares from their passengers.
“’Yung sa free ride po natin, binabayaran po natin ang driver/operator natin ng P46.87 per kilometer run po nila. Mas mataas di hamak, [halos] doble po ito doon sa ibinabayad po natin sa mga buses which is P33, at sa mga (traditional) jeepney na more than four times na P11-point-something per kilometer. So mas mataas po ito,” Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) OIC Executive Director Joel Bolano said.
[Regarding our free rides, we are paying the driver/operator P46.87 per kilometer run. This is high, (almost) double what we pay buses which is P33, and more than four times the P11.point.something per kilometer for (traditional jeepneys). So this is higher.]
Bolano also explained why they chose modern jeepney drivers: “Dahil po ‘yung mga drivers po natin dito ay sinuswelduhan on a daily basis, hindi po boundary. Kung isasama po natin ‘yung mga traditional PUJ, kailangan po nilang kumita on a daily basis. Sa modern PUJ (public utility jeepneys) kasi, [ang] operating expense [ay] sa kanilang pondo. Alam naman po natin, pag service contracting hindi naman po mababayaran agad ‘yan on the day.”
[Because our drivers here are paid on a daily basis, not under the boundary system. If we compare with the traditional jeepneys, they have to earn on a daily basis. With modern PUJs, they shoulder the operating expense. And as we know, service contracting won’t pay them on the same day.]
Meanwhile, the LTFRB encourages traditional jeepney drivers to apply for the SCP regular operation for additional income from the government. Click the website to register https://www.servicecontracting.ph/.
