PUV fare discount to cover select routes outside NCR —DOTr

The proposed fare discount for public utility vehicles (PUVs), to be implemented in the National Capital Region in April, will also be offered in select routes nationwide, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Thursday.

"Sa buong bansa po natin ito ipapatupad sa mga piling ruta sa siyudad na may pinakamaraming bilang po ng mga pasahero kagaya po ng nabanggit at alinsunod sa 2023 GAA provisions namin,"  DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said on Unang Balita.

(It would be implemented nationwide in select routes or those with the most number of passengers as stated in our 2023 GAA provisions.)

"Layon po ng programa na makipagtulungan din sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang matukoy ang mga ruta na magiging bahagi ng ating programa," he added.

(The program also aims to work with local governments in identifying the routes that would be part of the program.)

Pastor said the PUV fare discount may last for only six months because of their limited budget of P1.285 billion under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and P875 million under unprogrammed funds.

The PUV fare discount was pushed in place of free rides in the EDSA Bus Carousel, which ended on December 31, 2022.

According to Pastor, the DOTr will pay PUV drivers and operators every week or two weeks under the program.

Fares in traditional jeepneys will revert to P9 — the same as the fare before the pandemic hit and before the fare hike was implemented.

Transport fees for modernized jeepneys will be at P11 while bus fares will be reduced by P3 to P4.

UV Express rates, however, are still being studied. —KBK, GMA Integrated News