NextGen Day

CIBAC Party-List Rep. Bro Eddie Villanueva has introduced a measure proposing to exclude public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers from paying application or renewal costs in gaining professional driver’s license.

“Exempting them from paying application or renewal fees in securing a professional driver’s license will greatly help in cushioning their meager income from the unabated price surge of fuel and from the adverse effects of the pandemic so that they will take home a larger disposable profit,” Villanueva said in a statement on Monday.

Villanueva stated that “he recognized that PUV drivers, who are key players of our public transport sector, are mostly minimum-wage earners.”

Under the proposed House Bill 7796, no fee shall be imposed as a charge in the license application or renewal of PUV drivers except for fees required to be paid to the government or institutions providing services and documents necessary in the application or renewal of driver’s license, such as but not limited to medical or eye examinations from Land Transportation Office (LTO) accredited clinics, ID pictures, birth certificates, and the likes.

Villanueva stated that in some rural regions, tricycle drivers are either driving without a professional driver’s license or driving with an expired one which can be attributed to the high cost of fees in seeking and renewing driver’s license.

The exemption can be granted upon presentation of a confirmation from the local government unit indicating the applicant is a validated PUV driver, and a membership identity card issued by a recognized transport organization or a tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA).

HB 7796 defines PUVs as road-based motor vehicles that provide conveyance to the general public passenger and/or domestic cargo for a fee, offering services to the public, such as trucks-for-hire, UV express service, public utility buses (PUBs), public utility jeepneys (PUJs), tricycles, filcabs and taxis.

Transport vehicles authorized with or operated through Transport Networks businesses and individuals are not affected by the proposed bill.

Currently, the driver’s license application/renewal fee is estimated to be around PHP600 to PHP700, inclusive of the computer or processing fees.

The bill, however, penalizes PUV drivers who would present fabricated documentation to avail of the exemption with a fine ranging PHP50,000 to PHP100,000 and/or imprisonment of one month to six months upon the discretion of the court.

In view of their socioeconomic situation, Villanueva added, “We call on Congress to pass this measure in order to lessen the financial burden of our PUV drivers and to encourage them to apply for or renew their license.”

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