LTFRB targets over 400K PUV drivers for cash aid

Of the total, around 380,508 are drivers of four-wheeled PUVs—such as jeepneys, UV Express, buses, among others—while 55,111 are drivers of motorcycle taxis. (File photo: Carla Cervantes/Unsplash)

MANILA – A total of 435,619 drivers of public utility vehicles (PUV) are set to receive financial support through the government’s social amelioration program during the enhanced community quarantine amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

In a video conference on Tuesday, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III said the number was based on the LTFRB’s data on active PUV drivers and operators such as holders of Certificate of Public Convenience.

Of the total, around 380,508 are drivers of four-wheeled PUVs—such as jeepneys, UV Express, buses, among others—while 55,111 are drivers of motorcycle taxis.

“In our numbers, we actually have a total of 435,619 beneficiaries. PUV drivers on four wheels, meron din hiling na isali yung (there are those who wish to include) motorcycle taxis. I’m trying to make that qualification because motorcycle taxis are on the pilot run,” Delgra said.

Earlier, the LTFRB released a list of more than 4,000 transport network company (TNC) drivers that were allowed to collect their cash aid from the nearest branch of the Landbank of the Philippines (Landbank).

Delgra said it was TNC drivers who received the first batch of financial aid since their data were readily available compared to other PUV drivers.

He said the total identified TNC drivers were 8,800, but the initial batch of cash aid beneficiaries was reduced to around 4,000 to manage the number of claimants at Landbank branches.

As of 9 a.m., he said LTFRB has collected the data of 207,806 PUV drivers which has been sent to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for cross-matching to avoid “double-listing.”

“Kung nakakuha na sila ng ayuda sa DSWD, tatanggalin sila sa listahan ng LTFRB (If they have received aid from the DSWD, they will be removed from the list of the LTFRB),” Delgra said.

Distribution to be expedited

Due to public clamor and the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to expedite the distribution of cash aid, he said other means of distribution, especially through online cash transfers like GCash and PayMaya, were already in the pipeline.

“Maaasahan niyo po na even tomorrow, hopefully, next week, mapabibilis na po natin ang pamimigay. Hindi lang over-the-counter, kundi pati electronic fund transfer (Rest assured that by tomorrow or hopefully next week, distribution will be expedited. Not only over-the-counter but including electronic fund transfer),” Delgra said.

For those unable to collect their cash, he said they will still be allowed as they will be added to the succeeding list of beneficiaries.

He added that the list of beneficiaries has been centralized to ensure that they may collect at any Landbank branch while also ensuring that those who have collected will be recorded and will be removed from succeeding lists.

The LTFRB said that PUV drivers included in the LTFRB’s list of cash aid beneficiaries will simply need to bring their original driver’s license and a photocopy of their license with two signatures to a Landbank branch.

This includes those whose driver’s licenses have expired on Sept. 30, 2019, or later.

Drivers with confiscated licenses, meanwhile, may instead bring their temporary operator’s permit, a signed government-issued ID, and a photocopy of the ID with two signatures.

For those who will send a representative to receive the aid, the following should be brought with them: a letter of authority signed by the listed beneficiary, driver’s license or any government-issued ID of the beneficiary, photocopy of the ID with two signatures, and a valid government-issued ID of the representative.