President Nayib Bukele announced on Monday that the Salvadoran government has disbursed over $12 million to public transport operators, ensuring that all bus and microbus units across the country provide free service to citizens from May 5 to May 11. The initiative aims to ease the strain caused by ongoing roadwork on the Los Chorros highway.
According to Bukele, the payment represents “100% of the occupancy (at all hours) of all public transport units in our country during the seven days of free transportation.” He emphasized that, for the first time in the history of the transport subsidy, “the Government is up to date with 100% of transport operators,” leaving “no justification for failing to provide the free service to Salvadorans.”
The president also underlined the responsibility of bus companies toward their workers. “There are no valid excuses for not paying the salaries of the more than 12,000 drivers in the public passenger transport system,” Bukele stated, calling for full operation of units throughout the country. “We expect ALL units to circulate tomorrow, to stop at ALL bus stops, to serve ALL people, and to complete their routes ENTIRELY. There is no excuse not to do so.”
The announcement follows reports that some operators have refused to offer the service despite receiving full compensation. In response, Bukele issued a stern warning: “As a Government, we have fulfilled our part—even ahead of schedule. Now it is their turn to comply. Otherwise, extremely severe measures will be taken.”
On Monday morning, he confirmed that legal action is already underway against those failing to comply. “Many transport operators did not provide the service they are obligated to, even though the Government is covering 100% of their usual daily income… Ask Catalino Miranda how it went the last time they tried something like this. They made the same mistake again,” Bukele said.
Security forces have since arrested several individuals, including José Alejandro Arriza Salguero, vice president of the Ahuachapán Bus Association, and Genaro Ramírez, president of the Association of Salvadoran Bus Entrepreneurs.