Transport group laments further delays in resumption of PUJ ops

Transport group Piston on Sunday lamented the multiple rescheduling changes in the resumption of traditional jeepney operations, as drivers and operators suffer from financial losses due to drawn-out suspension.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Piston Mody Floranda said around 100,000 of their members were affected by the over three months suspension of jeepney operations.

“Masakit isipin na parang pinaglalaruan ‘yung aming karapatan at yung aming kabuhayan na kung titingnan natin ay halos apat na beses na itong na-postpone batay sa kanilang schedule,” he said.

According to Floranda, they were told that the operation of jeepneys will be allowed on June 15, 18, and 22.

Now, Floranda said, they were told that they can resume on June 30.

However, Floranda added that Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Martin Delgra III mentioned in a House committee hearing that jeepney and UV Express operations

“Pinag-aaralan pa kung kalian kami pababalikin sa paghahanapbuhay,” Floranda said.

Delgra said UV express units will be allowed to ply routes in Metro Manila starting Monday, “and then followed by the traditional jeepneys.”

“Masakit sa dibdib lalo kung makikita mo yung isang ama na driver na umiiyak dahil 'yung kanyang anak, humihingi ng pambili ng gatas, ng pagkain, wala siyang maibigay,” Floranda added.

“Paano ba ito tinitingnan ng gobyerno,” he added.

On Saturday, Senator Nancy Binay on Saturday called on the government to iron out plans for jeepney drivers who might not be able to resume operating with the jeepney modernization program.

"Ang nakakasama pa ng loob imbes na diretsuhin ang mga tsuper kung makakabiyahe...Dapat meron silang ginagawang paghahanda paano matutulungan ang mga drivers na 'di na nila pababalikin kasi ang sa tingin ko meron talagang 'di makakabalik," Binay said. —LBG, GMA News