Welcome to the 2nd Forum on Service Contracting

Background

Service contracting of public transport in the Philippines is a form of public private partnership.  The private sector - in this case the transport operator - owns, manages and operates the asset, while the public sector sets the service standards and compensates the private sector for the services rendered based on the contract.  In September 2020, through Department Order 2020-017, the Philippines’ Department of Transportation implemented for the first time the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Service Contracting Program (SCP). While service contracting was initiated to provide assistance to the critically impacted public transport sector, it is regarded today as part of the major reform of the public transportation sector, continuing beyond the pandemic and providing an opportunity for lasting improvements in service quality and sufficiency. 

On 22 March 2023,  the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P), in collaboration with the members of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, organized the 1st Forum on Service Contracting for Efficient and Equitable Public Transport Systems, which aimed to offer perspectives, proposals and insights on the implementation of service contracting of public transport.

The SCP has now entered Phase V and is being co-implemented by the Department of Transportation in partnership with local government units (LGUs). 

Supported by a grant from the Center for Research and Communications Foundation, Inc. (CRCFI), the University of Asia and the Pacific will host the 2nd Forum on Service Contracting on 20 November 2024 (Wednesday). The forum aims to: 

• Review the evolution of the SCP over the years to identify pathways for its institutionalization; 

• Discuss ways to further enhance the SCP's co-implementation with LGUs; and 

• Examine the impact of SCP on the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

Organizers

Ms. Jacqueline Mirabueno, School of Economics

Mr. Paul Argamosa, School of Economics

Dr. George Manzano, School of Economics

Mr. Garry Perez, School of Social Sciences, Law and Governance

Dr. Nick Alviar, School of Social Sciences, Law and Governance

Dr. Enrique Ligot, School of Sciences and Engineering; Sciences Engineering and Management Research Institute

Dr. Varsolo Sunio, School of Sciences and Engineering; Sciences Engineering and Management Research Institute

In collaboration with:

Department of Transportation (DoTr)

Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP)