The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the proposed fare discount for public utility vehicles (PUVs), that will be implemented in the National Capital Region in April, will likewise be offered in select routes nationwide.

“Sa buong bansa po natin ito ipapatupad sa mga piling ruta sa siyudad na may pinakamaraming bilang po ng mga pasahero kagaya po ng nabanggit at alinsunod sa 2023 GAA provisions namin,”  DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said in a television interview.

“Layon po ng programa na makipagtulungan din sa mga lokal na pamahalaan upang matukoy ang mga ruta na magiging bahagi ng ating programa,” he added.

According to Pastor, the PUV fare discount though may be good for six months, as he attributed this to the limited budget of P1.285 billion under the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and P875 million under unprogrammed funds.

The said PUV fare discount was first pushed as a replacement for the free rides in the EDSA Bus Carousel, that ended on December 31, 2022.

Pastor said that under the program, the DOTr will be paying the PUV drivers and operators every week or two weeks under the program.

This would mean that fares in traditional jeepneys will revert to P9 — the same as the fare before the pandemic hit and before the fare hike was implemented.

Transport fees for modernized jeepneys will be at P11 while bus fares will be reduced by P3 to P4.

UV Express rates, however, are still being studied.

Catherine R. Cueto