‘Roadworthy’ traditional jeeps to resume operating by Thursday or Friday —DOTR exec

Roadworthy traditional jeepneys will be allowed to resume operations either on Thursday or Friday, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said on Monday.

Interviewed on GMA Network's Unang Hirit, Libiran said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) made this commitment to the DOTr.

“Ang commitment po sa amin ng LTFRB ay by Thursday or Friday this week ay papayagan na pong makabiyahe ang mga roadworthy na traditional jeepneys natin,” she said.

Libiran said the resumption of jeepney operations was scheduled later than other means of public transport to observe the “hierarchy” in terms of load capacity.

She said public utility vehicles with bigger capacity were prioritized in the gradual resumption of mass public transportation, which was suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 threat.

Public transportation resumed on a gradual calibrated basis this June 1 in areas under general community quarantine. 

Phase 1, covering June 1 to 21, allowed trains and bus augmentation, taxis, TNVS (transport network vehicle services), shuttle services, point-to-point buses, and bicycles with a limited passenger capacity. Tricycles were also allowed, subject to the prior approval of the concerned local government units. Phase 2 on the other hand, starting June 22 allowed public utility buses, modern PUVs or jeepneys, and UV Express units.

On Sunday, transport group Piston lamented the multiple rescheduling changes in the resumption of traditional jeepney operations.

Piston national president 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, 22, and 30—which were all postponed.

Floranda said LTFRB chair Martin Delgra III mentioned in a House committee hearing that jeepney and UV Express operations will resume this week.

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

On Saturday, Senator Nancy Binay 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," she said. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News