A JEEPNEY driver in Central Luzon expressed gratitude to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the P24,000 incentive he received under the Service Contracting Program.

Arnold Sarmiento, a jeepney driver from Central Luzon, said the Libreng Sakay (free ride) of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), an attached agency of the DOTr, is a big help to the drivers and commuters especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Ngayong pandemic, naging malaking tulong po sa aming mga driver ang Libreng Sakay ng LTFRB at DOTr," Sarmiento said. "Sana matuloy muli ang programa para marami pa silang matulungan na drivers at commuters."

The LTFRB compensates the drivers who are offering free rides to passengers under the program.

The DOTr said the agency, through its LTFRB, implemented the program to augment the income of jeepney drivers like Sarmiento.

"Sa pamamagitan ng Service Contracting Program, nakakatanggap ang mga tsuper ng bayad per kilometer, may sakay man sila o wala," the DOTr said.

The DOTr also said that it is working to get funds under Republic 11518, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of 2021 to sustain the program.

"Sinisikap naman ng DOTr na maipagpatuloy ang programang ito sa pamamagitan ng paglalaan ng pondo para rito sa ilalim ng RA 11518 o General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2021," it said.