By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) launched two of six additional interconnected city routes which will offer free rides to healthcare workers and authorized persons outside of residence (APORs) in Pangasinan.
“This is a program with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO). It can be availed by medical front liners, essential workers in essential industries, and other APORs. They just need to present their identification cards or certification that they are APORs upon boarding the vehicle,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said in an interview with Philippine News Agency on Friday.
Tugade said six additional routes will comprise 65 units of modernized public utility vehicles (PUV).
He said the national government through DOTr, LTFRB, and LTO will fund the program under the Service Contracting Program.
“It is better for the medical workers, essential workers, and the other APORs to avail of the free rides by the PUVs because these are paid with or without passengers as long as they ply the given routes,” he said.
Tugade added that the program will continue as long as there are available funds. -rir
