The Philippines is now running out of roadworthy public utility drivers, officials from various bus companies claimed on Wednesday.

In an interview with reporters, G Liner Board Director Leonardo Macapagal said that those drivers that are highly capable and safety-oriented have already went abroad in pursuit of greener pastures.

“Nagkukulang na ang drivers dito sa Pilipinas na totoong nakapag-undergo seminars at trainings. Lahat sila nagpupunta abroad (Drivers in the Philippines that have really undergone seminars and trainings are getting scarce. All of them are going abroad),” Macapagal said.

Asked for the reason why PUV drivers leave the country, Macapagal said that one of the main reasons is salary. “Poor pay is relative. Most of the drivers are working from 4a.m. up to 10 in the evening for them to earn a living,” he explained.

“But we try to implement eight hours of work,” he added.

For his part, Saint Rose Transit Inc. Executive Vice President Giovi Simundac affirmed Macapagal’s claim, saying that they are already going through the same fate.

He said that currently they are lacking in drivers as they are starting to lose their trained drivers since last year. “Although there are ones that are applying, we are still lacking drivers,” he said.

According to him, they are losing two drivers monthly on the average— those who are leaving for job overseas are aged 45 years and below.

“The salary abroad is comparatively much attractive than the pay here,” he claimed.

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment issued Department Order (DO) 118-12 enforcing a fixed wage system for public utility bus drivers and conductors which is eyed to cut down reckless and risk-taking attitude of drivers stemming from lack of income security.

MMDA records show bus-related incidents in Metro Manila numbered 5,103 in 2009, 6,749 in 2010, and 6,176 in 2011.

Earlier reports told that the bus groups such as Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines, Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association, Inc., Inter City Bus Operators Association and the City of San Jose Del Monte Bus Operators Association have jointly filed their opposition on the fixed wage scheme at the Supreme Court.