Service contracting program, fuel subsidy to be implemented starting April 15—Marcos
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has announced that the Department of Transportation will launch a service contracting program for public utility vehicles effective Wednesday, April 15.
"Sa ilalim ng programang ito, babayaran namin ang ating mga operator at drayber ng mula P40 hanggang P100 kada kilometro. Dagdag ito sa kanilang kita mula sa pamasahe," Marcos said on Thursday afternoon in a video message.
A nationwide 20% fare discount will also take effect, benefiting approximately 50,000 public utility vehicles and 1,000 operators while reaching up to 15 million passengers.
Routes are aligned with train lines and major bus corridors to ensure travel is more convenient, efficient, and reliable.
The program targets off-peak hours to ensure commuters have reliable transport options throughout the day. He noted that GPS monitoring will be used to track all trips and ensure consistent service delivery.
Additionally, there will be a P10 per liter discount for PUVs, with a maximum of 150 liters per week, for three months.
Implementation begins in the National Capital Region at Commonwealth, followed by a phased expansion to major corridors including Quezon Avenue, España, Zapote, A. Bonifacio, Rizal, and Marcos Highway, ultimately leading to a countrywide release.
"Mahalaga ito dahil hindi lang transport cost ang tinutugunan natin. Pinipigilan din natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng pagkain at iba pang pangunahing bilihin," Marcos said.
The fuel subsidy will be available at legitimate gas stations approved and monitored by the Department of Energy.
"Ginagawa natin itong lahat para manatiling maayos ang takbo ng inyong araw-araw na buhay. Ang bawat desisyon na ginagawa natin ay may isang layunin lamang, maprotektahan ang Pilipino," Marcos said.
Marcos has already declared a state of national energy emergency in response to the Middle East conflict and what he called an "imminent danger" posed to the country's energy supply.
