Transport groups give mixed reactions on hiring drivers as contact tracers

Transport organizations gave varying reaction to the plan of the government to hire drivers, who are mostly jobless amid the limited public vehicle operations, as contact tracers for COVID-19 cases.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV on Thursday, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization national president Efren de Luna doubted that the plan would be effective.

“Ang nakikita po natin dito, nililigaw lang ng ating pamahalaan ‘yung parte na tinatawag nating kapalpakan ng kanilang kalalakaran at yung sistema na sinasabi nila na bibigyan ng trabaho,” he said.

De Luna underscored that the social amelioration program aid should have distributed to affected public utility drivers.

“Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa po kami nakakatanggap,” he said.

Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) President Zenaida Maranan opposed the plan saying that it will endanger drivers.

“Talagang nilalagay na nila ang mga tsuper sa isang bagay na gusto na nilang mamatay ang mga ito. Mahawa na sila, pati pamilya,” she said.

“Wala silang malakasakit sa tsuper na halos magtatatlong buwan nang walang hanapbuhay, na hindi naibibigay ‘yung obligasyon nila bilang gobyerno na ayuda. Tapos ngayon, ibabala pa sa sakit,” she added

Maranan pointed out that drivers do not have enough expertise on the matter. She advised the government to consider other ways to provide income for affected drivers.

PISTON national president Mody Floranda said that those who are working in the health sector should be designated to the task and not the transport sector.

“Itong nagaganap na pandemic ay tuwiran nang ginagamit ng gobyerno ng DOTr at ng LTFRB para tanggaln ng kabuhayan at ng karapatan ang mga drayber at operator para tuwiran nilang maipasok 'yung kanila bogus na modernization program,” Floranda said.

Meanwhile, Pasang Masda President Obet Martin expressed openness about the idea given that drivers have no livelihood at the moment.

"Malaking tulong ito sa mga drayber. Dalawang buwan na po kaming  naka-nganga…Pansamantala, hanggang walang hanapbuhay, tinatanggap ko 'yan,” Martin said.

Martin said he is confident that the government will provide appropriate protective equipment for drivers during the contact tracing activities.

On Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the government is looking into the possibility of hiring jeepney drivers displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic as contact tracers. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA News