Jeepney operations in Dagupan have dropped to just 10 percent after floods made several major roads impassable.

Rodolfo Cabinta, a jeepney driver, from Calasiao said he now avoids Mayombo Road because of the high floodwaters. Instead, he takes Tebeng–Tambac Road and exits through Barangay Bolosan to reach Dagupan proper.

“Madami na ang hindi bumabyahe sa amin. Mahirap kasi bumyahe ngayon. Kung dadaan kami sa baha, masisira ang bearing,” Cabinta said.

According to the One Pangasinan Transport Federation (OPTF), only about a hundred jeepneys remain in operation in the city.

“Talagang maraming hindi bumyahe kasi hindi pwede sa Mayombo ang daan. Baha malalim, pero may mangilan-ngilang bumyahe via Tebeng sila dadaan, tagos nila sa Tambac, pero mangilan-ngilan lang sila,” Bernard Tuliao, OPTF president, said.

Commuters also felt the shortage of available trips.

“Mahirap kasi ang daan ngayon. Wala halos masakyan, siksikan kung may jeep,” Rosalie Bruan, a passenger, said.

Among the roads not passable to light vehicles were Mayombo Road, Zamora Extension, and Burgos Extension.

To ease the problem, the Dagupan City government deployed its service vehicles to offer free rides.

“Nagsimula na kahapon ang libreng sakay. ‘Yung truck natin nag-iikot na, may mga naisakay na tayong mga stranded na pasahero,” Michael Joe Caguioa, early warning operation officer of the Dagupan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said.