The Municipality of Albufeira granted a financial contribution of 94.500 euros to Albucoop – Cooperative Rádio de Táxis de Albufeira, with the objective of «minimizing the losses caused by Covid-19».
This is, according to the municipality, "another measure of support to the population and economic activity of the municipality following the pandemic".
"The support corresponds to six months of quotas, referring to 105 taxi licenses granted by the Municipality, intended for the activity of transporting passengers serving the population and tourism in the municipality", he adds.
With more than three decades of existence, Albucoop provides passenger transport services in the municipality, «developing an activity that, as it depends heavily on tourism, has been one of the most affected since the beginning of the pandemic», justifies José Carlos Rolo, president of the Chamber from Albufeira.
"In other words, from mid-March to the end of June, taxi drivers practically did not work and even now the activity is very far from the levels previously reached, so the income of these people and their families are not enough to make a normal life", adds.
In this specific case, the amount will provide Albucoop with means that will revert to the benefit of its members, namely through the exemption from payment of quotas to the cooperative, says José Carlos Rolo, clarifying that «the support of the municipality corresponds to six months of quotas, referring to 105 taxi licenses granted by the Municipality' intended for the activity of transporting passengers serving the municipality's population and tourism.
The president adds that without any other state or local support so far, Albucoop is going through
great difficulties, “since it survives on the membership fees of its members who, with the reduction in income, cannot pay them, leading to the cooperative running out of funds to meet its normal expenses and, of course, much less to help the cooperators in this difficult time, when compliance with safety standards increases exponentially the costs of the activity».
Albucoop has, moreover, tried to minimize the loss of income of its members and encourage the resumption of activity by providing logistical support to taxi drivers, namely through the distribution of masks, gloves, alcohol and disinfection of taxis.
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