The Philippine Department of Transportation announces that more than 19,000 jeepneys, UV Express, and EDSA Busway units will operate under the government's service contracting program beginning Monday, April 20, 2026, aiming to provide guaranteed income for drivers and fare discounts for commuters.
MANILA – The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) has confirmed that over 19,000 Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) units nationwide, including modern and traditional jeepneys, UV Express vans, and EDSA Busway buses, will commence operations under the government’s Service Contracting Program (SCP) starting Monday, April 20, 2026. The announcement came from Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez during a press forum held in Quezon City.
The program, which began with a small number of participating units on April 15, 2026, aims to provide a guaranteed income to PUV operators and drivers by paying them a fixed amount per kilometer traveled, regardless of passenger load. This subsidy is coupled with a mandated 20% fare discount to commuters, on top of existing discounts for senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and students.
The first phase of the SCP has an initial budget allocation of one billion Philippine pesos, with 800 million dedicated to road transport and 200 million for maritime transport. Under this scheme, bus operators and drivers receive 100 pesos per kilometer, modern jeepneys and UV Express units 40 pesos per kilometer, and traditional jeepneys 30 pesos per kilometer.
The program covers 823 routes across the Philippines, predominantly focusing on connecting feeder routes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, enhancing integration with other transport modes like railways. The program operates five days a week and currently supports approximately 50 bus operators with 500 bus units on the EDSA Busway alone, serving around 300,000 passengers daily.
Secretary Lopez emphasized that the SCP not only benefits transport operators and drivers by providing financial stability but also benefits commuters through fare discounts. The department is coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management to secure funds for an additional 5 billion peso request to extend and expand the program in its second phase.
This initiative aims to stabilize livelihoods in the public transportation sector while encouraging modernization and efficiency in PUV operations.
Sources referenced:
- https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/984420/service-contracting-program-puv-units-dotr/story/
