UV operations resume despite decreased earnings due to COVID-19 protocols

Several UV Express drivers opted to ply their routes on Monday despite the expected significant decrease in earnings due to coronavirus-related restrictions on mass transport.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” it took over 30 minutes to fill up a van in Masinag, Antipolo bound for Ayala, Makati.

Driver Coellen Macay said he only earned P1,080 from three trips, compared to the average of P1,875 in earnings prior to the pandemic since only nine passengers are allowed onboard instead of the previous 12.

“Tiyaga tiyaga lang po. Magmamaneho pa rin kasi kesa sa bahay wala rin pong ibang pagkakakitaan, bumiyahe na lang po. At least kahit papaano, kumikita,” he said.

In Bulacan, the number of passengers allowed onboard UVs was cut from 18 to nine.

Despite this, driver Dick Sanchez said he will continue to work anyway.

“Kesa nasa bahay kaming naka-lockdown, tatlong buwan na kaming walang kinikita, sakripisyo lang ho talaga,” he said.

In Cavite, no UVs have returned to the roads possibly because drivers and operators are hesitant at operating at a loss.

No fare hike will be imposed despite the implementation of social distancing measures inside UVs.

“Siguro these transport operators have to be reminded: sa transportasyon, inuuna natin public service, pangalawa lang ang kitain,” Transportation senior consultant Bert Suansing said.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board earlier approved the deployment of 980 UVs serving 47 routes in Metro Manila starting Monday. 

Meanwhile, UVs plying the Rodriguez, Rizal to Quezon City route were not given the green light to operate despite their observance of health protocols and investment in a cashless transaction system.

“Kami naman sumusunod. Lahat ng paghahanda gagawin namin. Lahat ng pamantayan, gagawin namin para lang magkahanapbuhay,” Metro Comet Transport Cooperative's Ed Comia said.

“Ongoing po ang assessment, kasi kakasimula pa lang noong operation nila. So titingnan natin kung tama lang ba ‘yung bilang ng mga ruta, kailangan bang magdagdag, pati ‘yung number of units,” Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said. —Julia Mari Ornedo/LDF, GMA News