UV Express routes from Bulacan-QC reopened; drivers grateful

Eight months after the lockdown started, UV Express routes from Bulacan to Quezon City were reopened on Monday.

Among the routes reopened with approval from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board were Calumpit to Quezon Avenue and back, and Malolos to Trinoma and back, according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

Drivers welcomed the development, saying they had a hard time making ends meet since mid-March when the lockdown was implemented amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of them, Edward Narciso, took a sideline job driving a shuttle service, while another one, Oliver Cailipan, worked as a construction worker.

"Nagpapasalamat kami kasi nakabiyahe kami. Medyo matagal-tagal dahil sa lockdown, eight months," Narciso said.

"Malaking bagay [na nakabiyahe ulit]," said Cailipan, who has been a UV Express driver for 10 years.

The drivers prepared for the resumption of operations, placing plastic barriers inside their units to serve as additional protection to passengers against possible COVID-19 transmission.

From 18 passengers before, only 13 passengers will be allowed per UV Express unit to ensure physical distancing.

All passengers will also have to wear face masks and face shields.

The UV Express units going from Malolos to Trinoma and back will also have to use Mindanao Avenue instead of EDSA.

This will result in more time in traffic, but the drivers said they will follow the new route given to them.

Passengers were also advised to take note that the UV Express operations will be point-to-point, thus they can only load and unload passengers at terminals. —KG, GMA News