discounts will not affect drivers’ income’

n By MARICEL V. CRUZ

Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista-Lim of DUMPER PTDA party-list legislator representing the transport sector on Saturday said public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers will not incur losses from their usual daily income once the nationwide fare discount takes effect next month.

Bautista-Lim clarified that the implementation of the Service Contracting Program (SCP) will not affect the drivers’ income because of the discount on fares.

“Our PUV drivers will never incur losses because the government will shoulder the fare discount that it will be implemented. While it may be true that there will be lower fares in favor of commuters, this does not mean drivers will be at a disadvantage because the SCP will fill in the discounts,” Bautista-Lim said.

She added the program will be implemented nationwide and drivers have nothing to worry about.

Bautista-Lim added that the move by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is very timely as PUVs and the riding public transition to the old normal before the pandemic. More and more PUVs are now plying the country’s major thoroughfares.

FRESH

THE Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said it is one with the thrust of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to rid and prevent the spread of fake news including on social media.

This after the OPAPRU on Saturday urged women’s group Gabriela to follow existing procedures in filing complaints against government personnel allegedly involved in abducting and harassing one of the organization’s leaders recently.

“We urge organizations like Gabriela to follow procedures that have long existed in making complaints against our personnel or any official of the government,” OPAPRU Undersecretary Wilben Mayor said in a media briefing in Quezon City.

“This goes a long way in preventing issues from taking on the character of gathered material devoid of any grain of truth. One cannot truly win the hearts and minds of our people by propagating misinformation,” Mayor said.

In a social media post on Friday, Gabriela Women’s Party accused some members of OPAPRU of abducting and coercing Gabriela Party-list Marikina chapter president Elizabeth Maynigo.