Jeepney drivers go back to begging as Metro Manila returns to MECQ

As Metro Manila and neighboring areas returned to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) on Tuesday, jeepney driver Ferdie Caligayan returned to scavenging and begging for alms to provide for his family.

More difficult than trying to make ends meet, however, was explaining to his children that they might not go back to school in the upcoming academic year.

According to Ivan Mayrina’s report on “24 Oras,” Caligayan and his family no longer knew what the future might bring after public transportation was again shut down for the two-week MECQ.

“Padilim na nang padilim ‘yung kinabukasan namin,” he said.

“Lalo ngayon, tinatanong ako ng mga anak ko kung papasok pa ba raw sila. Ang sabi ko mukhang hindi ko na kayo kayang pag-aralin. Nakakaiyak,” Caligayan added.

Michael Navarra, also a driver, likewise returned to streets on foot instead of aboard his jeepney.

“Nanghihingi po kami ng kaunting tulong sa mga dumadaan kasi hindi pa po kami kumita noong bumiyahe kami,” he said.

His Tandang Sora-Quezon City Hall route was among those approved by the government to resume operations in July after quarantine restrictions were relaxed, but business was slow even then.

“Medyo nangangapa pa rin po kami sa pasahero… pero no’ng panlimang araw medyo okay na po sana kaso lang ito nga po nag-MECQ na naman po kaya tigil na po uli,” Navarra said.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) vowed aid for jeepney drivers who once again lost their sources of income due to the MECQ.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said the DOTr was working with the Social Welfare and Budget Departments to provide aid for jeepney drivers.

“Kausap po natin ‘yung DSWD kahapon at sinabi naman po nila na tuloy-tuloy po ‘yung pamamahagi nila ng ayuda sa ating mga drivers na hindi pa nakakatanggap at meron din pong nakahain na stimulus package ang DOTr sa Congress in coordination with DBM para po maalalayan ‘yung ating mga driver,” she said. — Julia Mari Ornedo/DVM, GMA News