The City Government of Davao called on project-affected people (PAPs) anew to register for the Social Development Program (SDP) of the Davao Bus Project, formerly known as the High Priority Bus System.
City Social Welfare and Development Program Focal Person for the Davao Bus Project, Riza Ibañez, said that as of September 11, a total of 9,311 persons have registered for the program.
“Ang nagpalista sa amo, total number namo as of yesterday, 9,311 drivers and operators wala pay labot ang atong allied workers. Naa ta’y total number of qualified nga 7716, then naa pa ta’y pending karon nga 1,535. (As of yesterday, 9,311 drivers and operators, allied workers not included yet, have registered. We have 7,716 qualified for the program, while 1,535 are still pending),” Ibañez said.
Qualified individuals for the SDP, which the CSWDO refers to as PAPs, include Public Utility Jeepney (PUJ) drivers, operators, and allied workers who are affected by the Davao Bus Project. The registration for the program is being catered to at the Davao Bus office, located at People’s Park. PAPs can also visit places where the agency is conducting community drives.
To register, they need to bring their LTO registration, franchise (for operators), IDs issued by the CTTMO, plate number, route of the PUJ, deed of sale if the unit was recently bought, endorsement from the operators to prove that they are driving the unit (for drivers).
According to Ibañez, PAPs will be given non-financial and financial assistance by the government.
“Duha ka hinabang sa non-financial assistance ug ang financial assistance nga dawaton gyud nila isip compensation kung pananglit mawad-an na sila og trabaho o dili na sila makapadagan sa ilang sakyanan or makapamasahero, mao na siya ang atoang ihatag sa ilaha (There are two forms of assistance that the PAPs will receive, both financial and non-financial, as compensation if they lose their livelihood or when they can no longer operate their PUJs),” Ibañez said.
Included in the non-financial aspect of the SDP are both livelihood and educational assistance. Under the livelihood program, the CSWDO will conduct trainings as part of employment facilitation for the drivers. Ibañez said that the PAPs by the implementation of the bus program will be prioritized in the hiring of personnel for the project. The agency will also provide trainings for PAPs who prefer to start their own business.
She said that the educational assistance offered under the SDP does not only cover the PAPs but their families as well.
“Ang CSWDO muhatag niini sa elementary to high school, and then ang atoang kolehiyo mao na siya ang in partnership sa EBSU (The CSWDO will cover the elementary to high school education while for the college assistance, it will be in partnership with the Educational Benefit System or EBSU).”
As for the financial aspect of the program, Ibañez said that based on the Social Development Program City Ordinance, PUJ drivers will receive financial assistance of not less than PhP 80,000. However, the details of the financial aid are still being ironed out.
The financial assistance is expected to roll out once the initial bus operations starts by the end of the year 2024. CIO
