DAILY STRUGGLE | Operators urge government to settle delayed payments for Libreng Sakay

July 19, 2022 , 10:16 AM

By Beatrice Puente

(July 19, 2022) – A transport operator group on Monday urged authorities to settle the delayed payments for the services they provided as part of the Libreng Sakay Program as drivers and conductors struggle to make a living.

Juliet De Jesus, the managing director of Samahan ng mga Transport Operator ng Pilipinas, said they were supposed to receive a weekly payment but many of them have yet to receive their dues for about two months now.

“Ang tanong namin, ano ba ang dahilan bakit hindi kami nababayaran sa payout when in fact may pera sa GAA (General Appropriations Act) na P7 billion na ibinigay para sa Libreng Sakay,” said De Jesus on One PH’s Sa Totoo Lang.

De Jesus said this was the primary reason why some operators dispatched fewer units on the road.

“Wala kasing enough na pera pang-finance sa operation expense ng mga operator kaya medyo nagkukulang ang mga unit sa busway,” said De Jesus.

Public officials provided free rides to help commuters lessen their transportation expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic and the soaring cost of commodities. But the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) admitted that the funds have already been exhausted.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has urged the continuation of the Libreng Sakay Program until December but he was quite unsure about it during a recent press briefing.

Various groups have complained about the delayed payments for drivers. But LTFRB executive director Tina Cassion told them to file a formal complaint as she stressed that the issue is between operators and drivers.

De Jesus, however, said they cannot provide compensation if they do not receive payments from the government. She pointed out that operators are not the problem.

“‘Yung mga driver at konduktor namin ang pinaka-importanteng empleyado ng aming kumpanya,” said De Jesus. “Priority namin na bigyan ‘yung drivers namin ng kanilang suweldo. Ang problema lang ay matagal ang payout na ‘yan.”

De Jesus also hopes that the other city bus routes in Metro Manila would be allowed to operate again ahead of the resumption of face-to-face classes. She stressed that the rationalization route that transport officials pushed added to the burden that commuters already bear.

“Hindi puwedeng dumiretso ang mga estudyante. Sakay, baba, sakay, baba ang nangyayari kung sila ay papunta sa kanilang paaralan. Ang tendency ng mag-aaral, pagsakay pa lang ng sasakyan, na-stress na ang mga estudyante bago pa dumating ng paaralan,” said De Jesus.

The Passenger Forum (TPF), a transport advocacy network, said the public transportation system is not yet ready for the full return of face-to-face classes considering the long lines and congestion.

“While we understand that many sectors are already calling for a return of face-to-face classes, we are just saying that the government should be wary of the additional demand to our already heavily burdened public transport system,” said TPF convener Primo Murillo.

(PM)

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