‘Libre Sakay’ drivers get service fee

BACOLOD. DSSD personnel releases the service fee of 96 jeepney drivers working under the “Libre Sakay” program Tuesday afternoon, September 15. (Photo by Bacolod City PIO)
BACOLOD. DSSD personnel releases the service fee of 96 jeepney drivers working under the “Libre Sakay” program Tuesday afternoon, September 15. (Photo by Bacolod City PIO)

THE 96 public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers who have worked for two days under the “Libre Sakay” program of the Bacolod City government have received their service fee of P3,000 each from Mayor Evelio Leonardia Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

The money for the service fee for Monday and Tuesday totaling P288,000 was donated by friends and supporters of the mayor. The City Government will shoulder the service fee of the drivers only starting Wednesday after completing some requirements.

The service fee was distributed to the drivers by personnel of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) in the presence of Executive Assistant Samuel Montoyo Tuesday afternoon.

The “Libre Sakay” Program was put into effect on Monday, September 14, after the mayor requested Councilors Dindo Ramos and Cindy Rojas to meet with the transport group leaders on Sunday to discuss the parameters of the proposed transport system.

For each day under the program, there will be 48 drivers plying the city to service medical and healthcare workers and essential services workers.

The Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO) has assigned seven point-to-point jeepney routes. Each driver is expected to ply ten round-trips per day along one assigned route.

Seven take-off points were set at the following barangays: Granada, Estefania, Bata, Banago, Sum-ag, Handumanan, and Mansilingan. There are ten departure times from each take-off point, starting from 4:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and with a two-hour interval each. The central drop-off is at the Bacolod City Public Plaza.

Every day, the transport groups will choose 48 drivers.

Leonardia said the “Libre Sakay” is a program of the City Government to address the suspension of public transportation in Bacolod, as it has been placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from September 8 to 30.

Public transport is not allowed in areas under MECQ as mandated by the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Leonardia and other City officials had a teleconference with Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Regional Director Richard Osmeña Saturday night, September 12, during which, Osmeña agreed to allow the City to use public utility jeepneys to provide point-to-point transport services for medical/healthcare workers and other essential workers on a pre-arranged basis without breaking protocols under MECQ.

Joining that teleconference were Councilors Cindy Rojas and Dindo Ramos, City Administrator Em Ang, City Legal Officer lawyer Joselito Bayatan and Secretary to the Mayor lawyer Edward Joseph Cuansing. (PR)

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