CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – After the much-praised Libreng Sakay project that provided free rides to workers in essential industries soon as the province was placed under general community quarantine, comes now Tulong Pasada allowing public utility vehicles to operate again.
Under the program, the Pampanga provincial government is partly subsidizing 500 jeepney drivers to resume plying their routes starting Friday and to collect regular fares among passengers.
Tulong Pasada, according to Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda is a direct response to the appeal of the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other meet the transport needs of workers of several businesses allowed to operate under the GCQ.
The Capitol subsidizes in part the cost of fuel and the driver. “Ang mga drivers po ay nawalan din ng kita simula nang mag-quarantine tayo laban sa Covid-19. Tinutulungan po natin sila na kumita ulit para sa kanilang mga pamilya,” said Pineda.
“For the convenience of passengers, the Capitol made sure that all 19 towns and three cities in the province are served by the participating PUJs,” said Angie Blanco, executive officer of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.
Col. Jean Fajardo, provincial police director, has assigned police personnel as dispatchers in terminal to enforce the wearing of face mask and physical distancing.
Tulong Pasada comes after the implementation of Libreng Sakay 1 where Capitol mobilized service vehicles from 505 barangays to ferry workers. This was followed by Libreng Sakay 2, where 549 PUJs and 20 large buses were dispatched to bring passengers to work. With Office of the Governor
