For drivers and operators who may lose their livelihood by the end of the year, the government plans to hold training sessions to help them find another job.

“One of the options is they will be trained by DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) through TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) so they can find alternative jobs. The next steps will be they will be given jobs by DOLE after their training from TESDA. That will be the mode of exit,” Martinez told the lower house of Congress.

It is, however, unclear where the government will get funds to continue these support programs in the long run. Under the DOTr’s proposed 2024 budget, there was no budget at all allocated for the modernization program.

The DOTr also admitted that it was quite literally running out of personnel to implement the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, with more than half of their personnel involved in the program now having their contracts terminated.