By Argyll Cyrus Geducos Malacañang said jeepneys may not return on the roads if the supply of the different modes of transportation allowed to operate during the community quarantine is enough to allow workers to go to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque made the statement as the Department of Transportation (DOTr) started the second phase of its transport plan for Metro Manila on Monday. (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) In his Monday press briefing, Roque said that jeepneys may not return in Metro Manila if it turns out that the trains, buses, modern jeepneys, and UV expresses are enough to cater to the needs of the commuting public. He added that jeepneys are at the bottom of the government's hierarchy of public transportation and would be deployed only if the supply of buses and modern jeepneys would still be insufficient to meet public demand as will be determined by the LTFRB. "Tingin ko po , kung sapat (I don't think jeepneys can come back if we have enough means of transportation)," he said. "Pero ina-assess nga po ng LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) kung magiging sapat kung aalisin ang mga traditional jeepneys (But the LTFRB is conducting an assessment if we will have enough transportation means if we phase-out our traditional jeepneys)," he added. Vice President Leni Robredo has appealed to the government to not proceed with the jeepney modernization program while the country is facing a pandemic. However, Roque said that this was the perfect time to push through with the program. "Siguro naging desisyon ay makabubuti ang jeepney modernization program ipatupad ngayon na tayo po ay bahagyang pinapayagan ang ibang mga klase ng transportation na bumyahe muli (I think the decision was it would be better to implement the jeepney modernization program now that we're partially allowing other means of transportation to operate)," he said. Meanwhile, Roque asserted that modern jeepneys are better compared to traditional jeepneys, contrary to the statement of IBON Foundation that droplets can stay longer in closed spaces. He pointed out that there is a higher chance of transmission in traditional jeepneys where the passengers are seated across, and facing each other, compared to when you are all seating facing one direction. Roque added that there is also physical distancing in modern jeepneys. Motorcycles Meanwhile, Roque clarified that pillion riding or back-riding will be allowed only for private motorcycles and not for motorcycle taxis like Angkas. Roque earlier explained that a technical working group of the Inter-agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases was already ironing out the guidelines for pillion riding in private motorcycles. He, however, said that motorcycle taxis like Angkas are not allowed to transport passengers despite this because of the absence of a franchise, as determined in a pilot study done last April. "Kinakailangan muna sila kumuha ng prangkisa sa Kongreso (They need to secure a franchise from the Congress first)," he added. Since the lockdown was declared on March 15, the public has been appealing to the government to allow back-riding in motorcycles due to the suspension of public transportation. However, the IATF rejected the suggestions down due to the lack of physical distancing. President Duterte had thumbed down the move of different local government units to allow back-riding in motorcycles, saying they have to follow the guidelines issued by the IATF. Last week, Roque said the DOH was conducting a study to see if the "special suit" proposed by ride-hailing service Angkas will allow distancing in motorcycles so two people can ride the same vehicle at a time. In his Monday presser, Roque said President Duterte may prefer Angkas's suit because it appeared to be less prone to drag as air moves around a motorcycle.