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Jeepney drivers and operators camp at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on the first day of the three-day transport strike, April 29, 2024, against the deadline for consolidation of jeepney franchises under the PUV Modernization Program. The drivers plan to camp until Labor Day, May 1. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File

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PUV-MODERNIZATION

Joyce Balancio

ABS-CBN News

<div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171446180101720240429-jeepney-transport-strike-2MD_0352-MD.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="white-space:pre-wrap">Jeepney drivers and operators camp at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on the first day of the three-day transport strike, April 29, 2024, against the deadline for consolidation of jeepney franchises under the PUV Modernization Program. The drivers plan to camp until Labor Day, May 1. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>MANILA — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday reminded jeepney drivers of the livelihood assistance that they could avail should they refuse to consolidate their units as part of the process of the government&#x27;s PUV modernization program (PUVMP). </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>DOLE Workers&#x27; Welfare and Protection Cluster Undersecretary Benjo Benavidez made the remarks as the government insisted that Tuesday, April 30, 2024 would be the consolidation deadline for those interested to join the PUVMP. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>&quot;Ang direktang tulong na ibinibigay ng DOLE sa mga apektado po ng modernisasyon ay access doon po sa tinatawag natin na livelihood program. Nagbibigay po kami ng kapital sa mga apektadong drivers at konduktor. Hindi naman po ito kalakihan, hindi po lalagpas sa P30,000 per beneficiaries,&quot;  Benavidez said in a televised briefing. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>The livelihood program started in 2018, a year after the PUVMP was launched. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Since then, the assistance has benefitted thousands of drivers and conductors, Benavidez said. </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:20px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>&quot;Nakapagbigay na po kami ng more than 4,600 beneficiaries. At ngayon, Mayo uno mayroon po kaming 900 na individuals na bibigyan ng tulong pangkabuhayan,&quot; he added.     </span></div><div style="margin-bottom:16px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Operators have until April 30 to join a cooperative and then gradually replace their fleet with modern vehicles that are safer, more comfortable and less polluting.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:16px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>Cooperatives will be able to access bank financing and receive a government subsidy for each vehicle to ease the financial burden of the transition.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:16px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span>But drivers opposed to the plan argue that buying a new vehicle will bury them in debt and they will not be able to earn enough money to repay their loans and make a living.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:16px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/26/end-of-the-road-philippine-jeepneys-face-uncertain-future-1201">End of the road? Philippine jeepneys face uncertain future</a></span><br/><span><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/7/sc-junks-petition-vs-jeepney-modernization-program-on-technicality-1115">SC junks petition vs jeepney modernization program</a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom:16px;line-height:normal;color:rgb(0, 0, 0);-webkit-text-stroke-width:initial;-webkit-text-stroke-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"><span><strong>— With a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></span></div>

<p>The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday reminded jeepney drivers of the livelihood assistance that they could avail should they refuse to consolidate their units as part of the process of the government's PUV modernization program (PUVMP). </p>

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday reminded jeepney drivers of the livelihood assistance that they could avail should they refuse to consolidate their units as part of the process of the government's PUV modernization program (PUVMP).

DOLE offers livelihood grants to jeepney drivers who refuse to 'consolidate'

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DOLE offers livelihood grants to jeepney drivers who refuse to 'consolidate'

Joyce Balancio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 30, 2024 03:29 PM PHT

Read More:

jeepney

PUV modernization

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