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Commuters wait for a ride along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on March 19, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

Commuters wait for a ride along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on the first day of PISTON’s transport strike on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Fuel prices continue to rise, adding to the burden of drivers, workers, and daily commuters. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Christopher Sitson

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177622396168020260319-transport-strike-commuters-commonwealth-MT11.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Commuters wait for a ride along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City on March 19, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE) — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday relaunched the Service Contracting Program (SCP), which aims to support PUV drivers and operators while also assisting commuters.</p><p>Under the program, the government will pay participating public utility vehicles between P40 and P100 per kilometer. Commuters, meanwhile, will get a 20 percent fare discount, which is on top of the existing 20 percent discount granted to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.</p><p>For vehicles equipped with GPS, distance traveled will be measured through the system. For those without GPS, a QR code-based application will be used.</p><div><strong>GPS NOT REQUIRED</strong></div><p>PUVs are not required to buy or rent GPS devices to join the service contracting program, the Department of Transportation clarified.</p><p>“Naiintindihan natin na yung ibang mga tsuper natin ayaw talaga. Tayo na lang po ang mag-a-adjust. We always find ways to accommodate,” said Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.</p><p>Lopez explained that the DOTr only encourages renting a GPS device, like those already being used by some modern jeepneys and buses, because it makes the calculation of distance traveled easier, which means PUV operators can be compensated much faster. </p><p>LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza said the program covers 800 routes nationwide and involves approximately 40,000 public utility vehicles, including UV Express units, traditional and modern jeepneys and buses.</p><div><strong>HOW MUCH WILL DRIVERS EARN?</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Lopez also debunked claims that PUV drivers participating in the net service contracting program will only earn P500.</p><p>According to Lopez, based on their calculations, traditional jeepney drivers can bring home at least P2,000, with the help of the P10/liter fuel discount program led by the Department of Energy.</p><p>Each vehicle is entitled to a discounted allocation of 150 liters per week over five days, or 30 liters per day.</p><p>“Yung bottomline mo, aabot pa rin ng hindi bababa ng mga P2,000,” he said, noting that drivers will get paid P30 per kilometer regardless if they only get a few passengers.</p><p>On the part of commuters, they are entitled to a 20 discount. That’s on top of the 20 percent discount already being enjoyed by students, senior citizens, and Persons with Disabilities.</p><p>“If you’re a senior citizen tapos sumakay ka po sa isang modern jeep, UV Express, or jeepney na kalahok dito sa Net Service Contracting, ang bawas po sa pamasahe niyo ay 40 percent. (Kung) P13 po yata ang fare sa jeepney ngayon, first 4 kilometers, so kukunin mo dyan ang 20%, so P10.50 lang ang babayaran mo. Ngayon kung senior citizen ka o PWD, P8 na lang,” said Lopez, adding that participating PUVs should have a fare matrix on display.</p><p>As of the morning of April 15, the first day of the program, the LTFRB said 574 public transport operators with 57 vehicles already joined the program via the online onboarding system.</p><p>Lopez said he has asked the LTFRB to speed up the processing of applications so that they can begin operating as soon as possible.</p><p>“Ang usapan with LTFRB, dapat within 24 hours, the moment na they submitted documents, dapat onboarded na sila,” he said.</p><div><strong>HELP FROM LGUs</strong></div><p>But Lopez also admitted that they will not be able to immediately serve all routes, given the DOTr’s limited budget.</p><p>While the agency has requested more funds to sustain and expand the initiative, he urged local government units to also step up and set up their own service contracting programs to incentivize more PUV drivers to keep operating despite high fuel prices.</p><p>“In order for this program talaga to be successful, we need the help of LGUs. Sana yung LGU natin implement their own service contracting program kasi they know their routes more. Kasi hindi natin maco-cover lahat. Itong programa natin ngayon ang tantsa natin it will benefit 15 million passengers, e ilan ba ang passengers sa buong bansa? 15 million lang ba using the road transport?” he said.</p><p>“Kaya nating sagutin yung mga major thoroughfare, pero paano yung iba na hindi nasasama? For example, the tricycle drivers hindi po kasi napapaloob sa amin yan, pagdating sa mga ganitong programa, it should be under LGU,” added Lopez.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/15/manibela-launches-3-day-nationwide-transport-strike-0941">Manibela launches 3-day nationwide transport strike</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k4ggd6PZ0FE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qFjmA8uEOSQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The LTFRB has relaunched the service contracting program, which aims to assist the public transport sector and assist commuters.</p>

The LTFRB has relaunched the service contracting program, which aims to assist the public transport sector and assist commuters.

PUV service contracting kicks off to support operators, commuters

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PUV service contracting kicks off to support operators, commuters

Christopher Sitson,

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 15, 2026 12:10 PM PHT

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Updated April 15, 2026 03:57 PM PHT

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LTFRB

Transport

Commuters

Fuel

Public Utility Vehicle

Service Contracting Program

QR Code

GPS

DOTr

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