CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Some 500 public utility jeepney (PUJs) drivers in this province stand to benefit from the provincial government’s "Tulong Pasada" fuel subsidy program.
The PUJ drivers will start to ply their routes on Friday after being stopped for almost three months due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
Under "Tulong Pasada", the provincial government will pay in part for the drivers' fuel consumption.
Governor Dennis Pineda said on Thursday that the project is in response to the request of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) and other sectors to support workers as the national government allows several businesses to restart under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
“Ang mga drivers po ay nawalan din ng kita simula mag-quarantine tayo laban sa Covid-19. Tinutulungan po natin sila na kumita ulit para sa kanilang mga pamilya (The drivers also lost income since the start of the quarantine to fight Covid-19. We are helping them to earn again for their families),” Pineda said.
Angie Blanco, executive officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), said the provincial government made sure that all the 19 towns and three cities in the province will be served by the PUJs for the convenience of the passengers.
"Tulong Pasada" comes after the implementation of the "Libreng Sakay 1" and "Libreng Sakay 2" programs of the provincial government.
Under "Libreng Sakay 1", the provincial government mobilized service vehicles from the province’s 505 villages to ferry workers, while in "Libreng Sakay 2", the provincial government dispatched 549 PUJs and 20 large buses to bring passengers to work. (PNA)
