(Infographic courtesy of DOTr)
MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and other government agencies have teamed up for a livelihood program meant to support displaced drivers and other transport workers.
During the virtual signing of a memorandum of agreement on the “EnTSUPERneur” program on Tuesday, DOLE-Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Director IV Maria Karina Perida said they aim to provide capital and capacity building on livelihood and entrepreneurship.
“Its package of assistance includes working capital in the form of raw materials, equipment, and tools. There will also be micro insurance, basic training, and continuing business and technical advisory services,” Perida said.
The program aims to ease the impact of the local public transport root plan or the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) on drivers and other affected workers.
“Malaking bagay ito para sa mga manggagawa sa transport sector na maaapektuhan ng mga development kaugnay ng mga reporma sa (This is a big deal for workers in the transport sector that will be affected by the reform in the) public land transport industry,” Perida said.
The DOTr will provide PHP200 million funding to assist over 6,000 beneficiaries.
The Office of Transportation Cooperatives and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will help DOLE in choosing the program beneficiaries, both individual workers and transport cooperatives.
Individuals selected for the program will be provided livelihood assistance at a maximum of PHP30,000 while groups such as transport cooperatives may receive up to PHP1 million, depending on the number of members and the type of project they will implement.
“This assistance will help augment the income of drivers and qualified operators and contribute to the country's economic recovery efforts as we continue to battle the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic,” Perida said.
LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra III said such social support mechanism is a “key component” of the PUVMP.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to those who wish to be part of the continuing progress of this program but are financially disabled due to the restrictions brought about by the pandemic. Doon man sa gusto tumuloy sa programa na ito, at doon sa naapektuhan at boluntaryong lumabas, kailangan din natin sasaluhin ‘yung mga naapektuhan na (For those who wish to continue with the program, and for those who were affected and voluntarily left, we still need to help these affected) stakeholders,” Delgra said. (PNA)
