By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
The list of routes for conventional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) is expected to be released this weekend prior to the scheduled resumption of jeepney operations in the capital region next week, a transport official said on Friday.
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (MANILA BULLETIN)
Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III said they are finalizing the routes for traditional jeepneys in Metro Manila to allow them back on the road after almost three months of suspension due to the pandemic.
"As I have said, inaayos na namin ngayong araw at kung hindi makaya, bukas, Saturday, ay malalaman na ang ruta ng mga traditional jeepney. Abangan ninyo na lang po ang anunsyo," Delgra said in an interview.
(As I have said, we are setting it up today and if it can't be done, tomorrow, Saturday, we will know the routes for the traditional jeepneys. Just wait for our announcement on this.)
Meanwhile, an initial 30 routes will be opened for UV Express units which were given by the LTFRB a go signal to ferry commuters beginning Monday, June 29, Delgra added.
"Sa Lunes magsisimula na mag-operate ang mga UV Express. Last night, ang aming technical team ay tinitingnan pa rin ang mga ruta na pwedeng buksan but we are looking at 30 routes to be opened initially," he explained.
(The UV Express units will start its operations on Monday. Last night, our technical team is still identifying routes to be opened for these vehicles but we are looking at 30 routes, initially.)
"Within the same week, mag-ooperate ang mga ito (UV Express and traditional PUJs). Ang target natin magsisimula sa Lunes ang mga UV Express, then susunod ang traditional jeepneys," the LTFRB chief said, noting that there is still no exact date for PUJs as routes are still being finalized.
(Within the same week, UV Express and traditional PUJs will be back on the road. Our target is starting Monday, UV Express will resume its operations followed by traditional jeepneys.)
Over the week, the LTFRB has allowed modernized PUJs to resume and ply along 34 routes in the Greater Manila area in addition to other modes of public transport that have been operating at limited capacity since the implementation of a more relaxed general community quarantine last June 1.
According to Delgra, the launching of the routes and the identification of modes of public transport to be allowed is based on the policies laid by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) such as the following of the hierarchy of public transport, as well as its gradual, calibrated, and partial approach on mass transit revival.
"Sumusunod tayo sa alituntunin ng DOTr. Inuuna natin ang modes of public transport na mas malaki ang kapasidad na makapagsakay ng pasahero. Unang-una na ang mga bus followed by modern jeep, UV Express, then the traditional jeepney," Delgra said.
(We are following the guidelines of the DOTr. We are prioritizing the modes of public transport with more passenger capacity. First on the list are the buses, followed by modern jeepneys, UV Express, then traditional jeepneys.)
"Yung polisiya na calibrated, gradual, at partial na pagbubukas ng public transport system at sinusunod din natin kasi minamanage natin ang pandemya na ito. This is the very reason why hindi pwedeng biglaan ang pagbubukas ng ating mga pampublikong sasakyan," he pointed out.
(We are also observing the calibrated, gradual, and partial approach of the DOTr in the opening of public transport systems as we are facing a pandemic. This is the very reason why we can't allow all modes of mass transit to operate simultaneously.).
The transport sector has been among the hardest-hit by almost three months of hard lockdown which mandated a shut down on all forms of public transportation from mid-March until the end of May.
The resumption of mass transit is being implemented by the LTFRB in two phases, as advised by the DOTr and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Trains, bus augmentations, taxis, transport network vehicle services, shuttle services, point-to-point buses, city buses, and bicycles have been allowed in the first phase from June 1 to 21, while other modes of public transport will gradually resume during the second phase which began June 22 and will run until the end of the month.