Although some drivers have been back on the road for four months, many are still suffering because of the few passengers and lack of income.
Most of the Jordan Plains-Novaliches town-Philcoa route and vice versa earn even more from begging than from driving.
According to a 52-year-old driver, his income is around P100 per day. His income is even reduced because he still pays at the boundary.
“Minsan, umaabot ng P150, pang kain lang ng tanghali minsan wala pang hapunan. Dati dyan nangungupahan sa bayan, ngayon natutulog na lang sa jeep. Nung nagdaang pandemic halos isang taong walang hanapbuhay napalayas kami ng tinitirahan namin. Sana sa LTFRB yung pangakong tulong na ayuda maibigay sa aming mga driver,” the driver said.
The other driver, because too little income to give balance. Some of them have already settled in their jeeps.
But many still, even in difficult situations, would rather get beg for money than go back to the road to beg.
They appealed to the government to provide them with financial assistance for their daily needs.
Drivers in Fairview live in jeeps due to lack of income
Meanwhile, the Commission on Audit questioned in its 2020 report the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) when it found that only one percent of the P5.58 billion funds allocated for drivers had been distributed.
“Delays in the implementation of the service contracting program ranging from two to 10 weeks as of December 31, 2020, resulted in the minimal fund utilization of only P59,720,089 or 1.07 percent of the total project fund,” said COA.
According to the Piston group, the LTFRB should be held accountable for this.
“Dapat panagutin ang LTFRB sa malaking responsibilidad nito sa pagpapabaya at sa kagyat na pagpapaabot ng ayuda sa mga driver at maliliit na operator,” the group said.
Piston also suspects that the LTFRB may have deliberately failed to provide assistance to drivers to promote the modernization of jeeps, which it has been promoting for a long time.
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