INSTALLATION of tip boxes for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) is now allowed in Benguet Province following the approval of a resolution passed by the Provincial Board on Monday, June 22, 2020.
The tip boxes are seen to help drivers cope with the added costs and loss of income amid the community quarantine.
Board Member Juan Nazarro Jr., in Provincial Resolution No. 2020 – 563, said the limited operational capacity, the regular fare of PUJs and additional maintenance costs have significantly reduced the daily revenue of the operators and drivers.
"There is a need to find legal ways to cope with the added costs and loss of revenue or income by PUJs," Nazarro’s resolution said.
Under the approved measure, operators will be allowed to install tip boxes inside their PUJs, with the box inscribed with the words "tip box."
Due to Covid-19, only several PUVs were allowed to ply the streets, with 50 percent sitting capacity imposed as an added health protocol for the global public health crisis.
During a public consultation for a localized guideline for the transport sector in Benguet on June 18, tip boxes in PUJs are allowed but overcharging of fare is prohibited.