A memorandum of agreement is signed between the local government unit of General Santos City, the Lagao Drivers Operators Transport Cooperative (LADOTRANSCO), and the Modelong Tricycle Drivers in Gensan Transport Cooperative for the Special Support Fund (SSF) under the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program today, December 21, 2022 at the conference room of the City Mayor’s Office.
City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo-Pacquiao led the signing, along with Public Safety Office (PSO) Acting Department Head Atty. Rowi Arbilon P. Malayag, and the chairpersons of LADOTRANSCO and Modelong Tricycle Drivers. Witnessing the signing were the Department Head of the City Economic Management and Cooperative Development Office (CEMCDO) Dr. Leonard Flores, City Administrator Shandee Theresa Llido-Pestaño, PSO Acting Assistant Department Head Engr. Mylen Gecosala, and former City Councilor Atty. Franklin Gacal, Jr., who authored Ordinance No. 58, Series of 2020, the ordinance that established the SSF.
This year, the CEMCDO allotted PHP 10 million as an initial fund for the SSF program. The said fund aims to provide assistance to qualified cooperatives or corporations in the form of a financial grant to aid them in acquiring modern PUVs, in order to meet the required number of units in the approved local public transport route plan (LPTRP).
The LPTRP is a requirement from the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG), which introduced new rules on route planning and setting new standards for vehicles and drivers. To date, General Santos City has 14 approved routes. (CPIO/KAG/RSC)
Photo by Russell Delvo
