DOTr now provides free bus rides for medical frontliners nationwide

MANILA: In a post on its Facebook page, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the DOTr stated that free transportation services are already available for medical frontliners residing in Regions 2, 3, 4-A, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

According to the DOTr, through the cooperation and collaboration of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), free rides for medical frontliners and hospital personnel were provided not just in the National Capital Region (NCR) but also in various regions in the country.

As of April 5, the total number of medical frontliners who have been assisted through this program reached 58,785 wherein 257,092 healthcare workers availed the services in NCR, and 31,693 were provided with free bus rides in other regions.

The program, which started on March 18, included only three routes and eventually expanded to 19 within Metro Manila. Currently, the DOTr Free Ride for Health Workers Program also includes various routes in its neighboring provinces.

Furthermore, through the assistance of Google to the DOTr Road Sector, the 19 NCR routes for free transportation can now be seen on Google Maps. This will provide more convenience for health workers so that they can determine where to avail of the free rides of DOTr.

The DOTr has also created Malasakit Help Desks in numerous transport hubs and major hospitals in Metro Manila to help health workers in handling essential concerns and in determining which routes should be taken to reach their workplaces immediately.

For the bus companies providing free rides, the DOTr also gives fuel subsidy in collaboration with Phoenix Petroleum. It has been confirmed that a total of 50 liters of fuel are provided daily to the 60 private bus companies that are part of the Free Ride for Health Workers program.

Aside from the LTFRB and LTO, the DOTr Free Ride for Health Workers Program was implemented through the partnership of DOTr with various agencies and offices such as the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, Commission on Audit (COA), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Sandiganbayan, Court of Appeals, Office of the Solicitor General, Supreme Court, House of Representatives, and the Office of the President.

Different private companies have also expressed their unwavering support and cooperation for the program. These include Foton Motors, Isuzu Philippines, Elmer Francisco Industries, Mitsubishi Motors, Star 8, Beep, Pilipinas Autogroup, Manrose, Thelman Transit, G-Liner, Ube Express, Pamana, Hi-Star, Pascual, Jasper Jean, Hafti Transport, St. Rose Transit, Dagupan Bus, Jac Liner, Ceres Transport, Grace Transport, Precious Grace, Megaworld Corp. (Citilink), RRCG, MetroExpress, San Agustin, and HM Transport.

Photo from the DOTr official website and Facebook page