As 6,000 traditional jeepneys resumed operations Friday, transport groups asked government authorities to allow more units to go back on the road, citing the fact that the number is only a small fraction of the thousands of drivers who are still left without a livelihood.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) allowed Friday 6,002 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) to ply 49 routes in Metro Manila to ferry more commuters during the general community quarantine (GCQ).
Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) National President Mody Floranda said these numbers were only a small fraction of the 74,000 PUJs plying 579 routes in the capital region alone.
"Lubhang napakaliit nito kumpara sa tunay na bilang ng mga jeepney sa Metro Manila. Mananatiling gutom ang maraming drayber at operator (This number is very small compared to the actual number of jeepneys in Metro Manila. Many drivers and operators will remain hungry)," Floranda said.
According to Floranda, at least 150,000 drivers and 50,000 operators have been affected and lost their livelihood since the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in mid-March.
Floranda also said that out of the approved routes opened by the LTFRB, only 12 routes are over a minimum of four kilometers long, and just three are over nine kilometers in length.
The PISTON leader added that the routes given to traditional PUJs are "leftover" routes since all modes of public transport have been allowed by the LTFRB to resume its operations earlier.
"Nananatili ang ating tindig -- balik-pasada sa lahat ng ruta at para sa lahat ng yunit. Hindi kayang punuan ng iilang mga jeep ang kakulangan sa masasakyan ng komyuter at ang pagkalam ng sikmura ng mga drayber at opereytor, (Our stand remains -- to allow all routes and all units to resume operations. These numbers of approved units are not enough to augment the insufficient modes of public transportation for many commuters. It cannot fill the still empty stomach of our drivers and operators)," Floranda emphasized.
This was also the call of Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) National President Efren De Luna who asked transport authorities to give all jeepneys the go signal to operate.
De Luna also slammed the requirements set by the LTFRB for PUJs before operating, such as the need for a QR Code as a marker that the unit is "roadworthy" and have been allowed to return on the road.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III already announced that traditional jeepneys that are roadworthy would be allowed to resume operations without the QR codes as the LTFRB website that will provide it is having technical troubles due to its migration to another server.
Roadworthy PUJs are allowed to operate without QR codes from Friday, July 3, to Sunday, July 5, the LTFRB clarified.