All part of its moves in response to the national energy emergency.
On Saturday, April 18, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez said he has ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to allow penalty-free renewal of expiring driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations for three months.
Speaking a televised interview, the transport chief said the implementation of a moratorium covering driver’s licenses includes student and conductor permits, as well as car registrations set to expire this month.
“We gave an instruction sa LTO to basically give a moratorium… for the next three months, pwede sila mag-rehistro kumuha ng lisensya without any penalties,” he said.
AMNESTY FOR TNVS DRIVERS UNDER STUDY
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) confirmed that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is studying proposals to give amnesty to Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) that on boarded in spite of Transport Network Companies (TNCs) having reached their vehicle caps.
“Ang nangyayari po kasi dito, kung hindi naman napapayagan na mag-on boarding sila [drivers], hindi naman po sila makakabiyahe,” said Lopez. “It’s not the reason na walang prangkisa at this point in time. What triggers this is for the TNC… on boarding them.”
He furthered, “Itong platform, kung hindi ka naman naka-onboard, hindi ka naman makakabiyahe.”
Lopez then noted that drivers who have onboarded beyond the vehicle cap are in a difficult situation.
“Kapag i-cucut natin [sila] right away, foreclosed lahat po ‘yan. Mas lalaki ang problema. And sabi ko nga the timing now, because of what’s happening in the Middle East is medyo alanganin din para sa kanila,” he added.
For now, it is said that the DOTr is looking for other possible measures.
NET SERVICE CONTRACTING PROGRAM
Meanwhile, the DOTr chief said the department is also rolling out its Net Service Contracting Program nationwide to support both transport workers and commuters.
“Now we’re rolling out also yung net service contracting program natin. Again, this is nationwide. Nagsimula tayo last Wednesday,” the official said, noting initial challenges during the first implementation in Metro Manila.
“Medyo sabi nga ng LTFRB, matumal yung ating first few days ng ating rollout sapagkat matagal yung onboarding ng ating mga operators and drivers para dito sa programa,” Lopez noted.
To speed up the process, the DOTr chief said he has instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to conduct on-site onboarding and expressed optimism that the participation will significantly increase in the coming days.
“We’re expecting by Monday, makaasa po tayo na may 19,000, over 19,000 na jeepney, modern, traditional, and UV express, kasama na rin yung EDSA busway natin, na nakapasok na yung sa programa at mararamdaman na rin po ng ating mga commuters,” he added.
The program also includes benefits for commuters, including fare discounts. “Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, kailangan din natin magbigay ng kahit papaano ng tulong sa ating mga commuters. That’s the reason why we included also a fare discount na 20 percent sa kanila,” the official said.
OTHER MEASURES
In addition to these, Lopez added that the government introduced a fuel discount initiative in coordination with other agencies.
“Meron din tayong isang klase ng fuel subsidy program pero more of a fuel discount program. At ito po ang pakikipagtulungan sa DOE, sa Land Bank, DICT, madali lang ang konsepto nito… they are entitled to 10 pesos per liter, na discount for one week, meron po tayo 150 liters po yung maximum and in a day, 30 liters po yun,” the DOTr chief explained.
Beyond transport, the government is also addressing the cost of goods, particularly agricultural products. Starting April 20, agricultural delivery trucks registered with the Department of Agriculture will benefit from toll relief.
“On Monday, based on the instruction of the President, that’s April 20, magsisimula na rin po yung free toll pagdating sa mga agricultural delivery trucks po natin,” the DOTr said.
Lopez said additional measures have also been implemented across other transport sectors. “Sa railway po, we implemented already what we call the 50% discount sa MRT-3 and LRT-2 natin… in just one week, ang nakinabang na dito, over 4 million passengers,” the official noted.
“Yung mga airline companies natin kahit papaano makakatipid sila ng as much as PhP5,000, and that will basically translate din sa sustainability and stability ng ating mga pamasahe,” the DOTr chief said that on aviation.
Meanwhile, Lopez said in the maritime sector, port fees for agricultural shipments have been significantly reduced.
“For agricultural products, ang binabayaran po ng shipper dyan… can be as much as PhP546, but this time, binabayaran na lang po PhP1 na lang. So yun po yung mga big at sinasabi natin ongoing government initiatives po ng Department of Transportation under the guidance and instruction ng ating Pangulo,” Lopez added.
These are part of nationwide rollout of transport relief measures—from cash assistance for drivers to fuel subsidies and fare discounts—aimed at easing the burden on public utility drivers, operators, and commuters amid rising costs.