Joyride offers jobs to former jeepney drivers, conductors

New hope for displaced PUV workers

Drivers of public utility vehicles like buses and jeepneys who lost their jobs due to the pandemic, as well as their conductors, may find new work as a motorcycle taxi or delivery partner rider thanks to the DOTr-JoyRide Pangkabuhayan Program (DOTr-Joyride Livelihood Program).

This is after motorcycle taxi company, Joyride, heeded the call of the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) secretary, Arthur Tugade, to motorcycle taxi operators to help displaced PUV drivers and conductors find jobs in these trying times.

“Joyride is happy to work with the DOTr to help displaced PUV drivers and conductors find an alternative source of income. This is part of Joyride’s service to help our fellowmen especially in this time of the pandemic,” said Joyride SVP for corporate affairs and former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner, Noli Eala.

The program aims to give more than 500 displaced PUV drivers and conductors a chance to be part of Joyride’s growing fleet of partner-riders in their motorcycle taxi and Happy Move delivery businesses.

For interested drivers, conductors, all they need to do is register at Joyride’s biker account portal and wait for confirmation. Once confirmed, they will be instructed to undergo orientation, safety training, and a skills test at the Joyride Facility along Marcos Highway Antipolo, Rizal.

Are there motorcycle loans available for these drivers, conductors?

It’s hard enough for these displaced drivers unable to make a living by driving their jeepney. For some, all they have is their jeepney, while for many who are driving via “boundary system”, they don’t have a jeepney at all, let alone a motorcycle to use for a motorcycle taxi.

Does Joyride have a program like a cooperative so that these drivers and conductors can get their new motorcycles at reasonable terms? Joyride says that they are studying these options.

“Wala kami (we don’t have) official program for MC loans from Joyride. Pero meron mga kumakausap sa aming (But there are interested) banks and financial institutions na (that are) willing to provide that to our riders. So, pagaaralan din namin ito (So, we’re studying these options),” Eala told MotoPinas.com.