The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has no allocation for the Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) modernization subsidy program under the 2023 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

During the deliberation of DOTr’s P167 billion proposed budget for next year, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel asked about the equity subsidy for drivers and operators who wanted to procure modern jeepneys.

DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said the operator or driver who will purchase a modern jeepney is provided a P160,000 equity subsidy per unit.

The average price of a Class 1 model modern jeepney is P1.2 million to P1.4 million, Class 2 costs P1.4 million to P2 million, and Class 3 costs P2 million to P2.8 million.

Manuel then asked how much was allocated for the subsidy program next year.

Pastor replied, “For 2023 po the proposal was P778 million but it was not included in the National Expenditure Program.”

“Maganda tignan natin kung paano malalagyan. Nakakagulat na wala pala, given nga na maraming mga jeepney drivers na kahit na gusto pa namang pumasada eh tumigil na,” Manuel added.

Pastor said there are currently 5,300 modern jeepney units and 300 electric vehicles plying in different areas nationwide. He said this is around 5 to 10% of the total number of the public utility vehicles in the country.



No DOTr budget for PUJ modernization subsidy program in 2023
Source: Philippines Clips