LTFRB starts profiling of drivers affected by BRT

CEBU, Philippines - About 3,000 jeepney operators and drivers in Cebu City who are to be affected by the Bus Rapid Transit system are encouraged to submit personal data to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for profiling.

 Cebu-BRT Office head lawyer Rafael Yap said that LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez has already issued an order to commence the profiling within this month.

Yap said the profiling would serve as tool to address the drivers’ dislocation. The process would take at least one month.

“The affected public utility drivers and operators have to submit data so that we can appropriately conduct profiling and we can make an apt mitigating data collection,” Yap said, adding that based on the data they can develop good and effective proposals.

There would be 2,614 jeepney drivers (1,307 jeepney units) to be affected by the BRT implementation, as well as 912 operators comprising of 1,191 franchises and 22 routes.

 Yap said the data collection is very “vital” as it would show the target and affected audience; percentage and number of recipients; and comprehensive and mitigating factors to help the affected public.

 The profiling includes the personal information of the drivers and operators; what the driver wants to pursue for an alternative livelihood; among others.

 Yap said the driver’s “capacity” and “desire” will be greatly considered in finding for the assistance program and other means of livelihood to the jeepney drivers and other individuals that may be displaced by the BRT project.

 “With the data, we will analyze what livelihood suits them. Unsa ilang ganahan ipa-train like mechanical, welding, and automotive servicing, among others offered by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Department of Social Welfare and Development” he said.

 Once the profiling and proposal-making are done, the affected drivers, conductors, and operators can already undergo with the Employment Assistance and Skills Training program at the end of the first quarter.

  Other identified measures are: helping operators to move to other franchise routes including feeder routes to the BRT; offering existing transport operators the opportunity to be involved in service contracts for the BRT service; and assisting industry workers to find employment within the new bus system.  (FREEMAN)