MikeLigalig.com

BAGUIO CITY – The city government here is mulling on giving PHP300 per day subsidy to around 300 to 500 public utility jeepney drivers who will transport residents during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) until the end of 2020.

“We can afford it,” said budget officer Leticia Clemente during the management committee meeting on Friday where the draft proposals from various sectors handled by the department were reported.

Clemente said the city can give a stimulus package to help both the drivers of public utility vehicles and the commuters who currently pay a minimum of PHP20 fare.

Village officials earlier met with public transport groups that agreed to charge a minimum of PHP20 fare to help jeepney drivers. The fare was based on cost as well as in consideration of the implementation of the social distancing where the capacity of the jeepney has been halved.

Clemente said the subsidy will cost the city about PHP3.6 million a month as it allocated coronavirus disease (Covid) response fund of PHP248 million.

She said they can sustain the subsidy for three months until the end of the year and slowly ease the burden of commuters paying the fare.

“Tulong na rin natin kasi kawawa din ang drivers kung ibababa baka hindi na sila magpasada magiging kawawa naman ang mga pasahero (It will come as our assistance to the lowly driver who may not agree to service passengers which if it happens will affect the commuters),” Clemente said.

The total Covid budget comes from the PHP30-million disaster risk reduction management fund. The PHP150-million additional fund that was realigned from the unimplemented infrastructure project of the city and PHP70 million that “Bayanihan fund” from the national government. (PNA)

 



* Stay at Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at www.wirenine.com



Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=100914.0