By Alexandria Dennise San Juan While traditional jeepneys are all geared up to return on the road under the "new normal" protocols, a transport group leader said that its supposed resumption of operations next week might be all bluff. "Ang pagbabalik ng aming operasyon, iyan ay suntok sa buwan pa dahil wala pang direktang detalye na ibinigay ang LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) sa amin. Siguro ay ginawa lang nila 'yun para matanggal ang init ng ulo at galit ng mga traditional jeep operators at drivers," Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization ( ACTO ) President Efren De Luna said in an interview on Thursday. (Our resumption of operations might still be impossible to happen as the LTFRB is yet to provide us details. Maybe they just did it to get rid of the frustration and anger of traditional jeep operators and drivers.) In an online hearing held by the House Committee on Metro Manila development on Wednesday, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III told lawmakers that UV Express and traditional jeepneys will be allowed to ply the road next week. Delgra said slots for UV Express will be opened beginning Monday, followed by traditional jeepneys. UV Express units were supposed to resume since the start of the second phase of public transport revival last June 22 but transport authorities said guidelines for its operations are being finalized. Following Delgra's announcement, De Luna, as well as other transport group leaders, assured that their units are all set, and safety and health protocols are in place should they will be allowed to ferry commuters again. "Handang-handa na po kami matagal na para sa pagbabalik-pasada ng tradisyunal na mga jeep. Kahit wala pa kaming natatanggap na ayuda mula sa gobyerno ay matagal na namin itong pinaghandaan," De Luna said. (We are very much ready to operate again. Although we have not received any help from the government, we have been preparing for this.) "Lahat ng aming mga jeep ay mga division na at aming maisasakay na pasahero ay halos kalahati na lang. May mga private terminal kami na bago sumakay ang pasahero ay bayad na. May mga alcohol na rin kami," he added. (Non-permeable barriers are already installed in our units and the passenger capacity will be almost half. We have private terminals where passengers will be paying before riding the vehicle and alcohol or hand sanitizers are also in place.) Transport and commuters groups have been urging authorities to authorize the resumption of traditional jeepneys in the hopes of easing the limited public transportation in the metropolis. "The jeepney industry provides the largest share of public transport supply in the metropolis. Leaving jeepneys out of operation immobilizes a large segment of the Greater Manila population, and the lack of safe public transport options will endanger their health," transport advocate Move As One Coalition said in a statement. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier said that traditional jeepneys will still be allowed to operate and can serve as augmentation if modern jeeps are not enough to ferry commuters in an area under general community quarantine (GCQ). Aside from this, the DOTr added that units should also be roadworthy and will be able to maintain safety and sanitation protocols required by the Department to all public utility vehicles (PUVs). This week, the LTFRB has allowed modernized PUJs to resume and service 19 routes in the Greater Manila area in addition to other modes of public transport that have been operating since the implementation of the GCQ last June 1. Transport officials also clarified that modernized jeepneys are prioritized due to its front-facing seats, wider interiors, and an automated fare collection system which prevents close contact of passengers that could help in curbing the spread of the disease. The transport sector has been among the hardest-hit by the almost three months of hard lockdown which mandated a suspension on all forms of public transportation from mid-March until the end of May, cutting the main source of income of thousands of PUV drivers and operators and left many of them begging in the streets for money and food.