Cops stop jeepney drivers' free-ride initiative in Caloocan

Caloocan City policemen on Wednesday stopped the initiative of a group of jeepney drivers to offer free rides to commuters amid the general community quarantine, citing the need for approval from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases.

According to Allan Gatus’ report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the jeepney drivers planned to offer free rides from Bagong Silang to Fairview between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m. and from Fairview to Bagong Silang between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The jeepneys that were supposed to be used for the initiative all had dividers inside to enforce social distancing.

The drivers also had thermal scanners and even a form to gather passengers’ information should it be needed for contact tracing.

1-PASADA president Erick Domasig said he and his fellow drivers still volunteered to offer free rides despite receiving little support from the government.

“Walang naging tulong ‘yung gobyerno para makasakay ‘yung mga mahihirap, lalo na ‘yung mga gusto magtrabaho… Nagsumikap pa rin kami makatulong sa kapuwa namin mananakay. Gamitin ‘tong mga jeep na ‘to na ihatid from barangay to barangay,” he said.

The group also wrote to the concerned barangay officials, police, and traffic bureau about their free rides program.

However, they were not given the green light by authorities.

“I rejected his request because, number one, bawal po siya ngayon as per IATF guidelines. Maganda naman po ang hangarin nila that’s why I advised them na to please coordinate with IATF for their permit,” Caloocan Police Community Precinct 3 chief Police Major Rammel Ebarle said.

Commuters were disappointed to learn that the program would no longer push through.

“Mas mapapagaan sa’ming mga comuters [ang jeep]. Hindi na nga sakto or tama ‘yung araw ng pasok namin, nadadagdagan ‘yung expenses namin imbis na nase-save na lang namin,” commuter Shiela Dacaymat said. -Julia Mari Ornedo/NB, GMA News