Drivers, operators protest phaseout of traditional jeepneys by year-end

Drivers and operators of traditional jeepneys launched on Monday a simultaneous protest caravan in different parts of Metro Manila as part of their continuing opposition against the looming phaseout of their units under the government's public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program.

The caravans, which culminated in a picket in front of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City, were staged by different groups who voiced their concerns on the impending jeepney phaseout for which a deadline has been set on December 31, 2020.

Mody Floranda, national president of transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), said the government should focus on helping the drivers and operators survive the economic impacts of the pandemic instead of pushing for the "corporate-driven" PUV modernization program of the administration.

"Ilang buwan na kaming dumudulog na pakinggan ng gobyerno ang aming mga hinaing. Ngunit wala silang ibang ginagawa kundi magpabundat sa yaman ng bayan, busalan ang aming mga panawagan at ikulong ang aming mga lider habang hinahayaang gutom at walang bubong na masilungan ang libo-libong drayber ng jeep," Floranda said in a statement.

(We have been urging the government to listen to our pleas for several months now. They are doing nothing but plundering the people's wealth, ignoring our calls, and imprisoning our leaders while leaving thousands of jeepney drivers jobless.)

While the LTFRB is continuously opening routes for traditional PUJs since the enforcement of a more relaxed general community quarantine, Floranda said there are currently 198 routes covering 52,000 jeepneys that are still not allowed to resume operations despite the relaxed community quarantine imposed in most areas.

According to Floranda, this equates to almost 104,000 drivers who are still left without a livelihood in the midst of the economic crisis and the pandemic.

The group reiterated its call to allow the full resumption of jeepney operations, as well as provision for economic aid and subsidy for drivers and operators especially now that many workers are going back to their workplaces with the reopening of the economy.

The transport group leader also slammed the red-tagging of some of its members and other progressive organizations, adding that the administration should stop its "criminalization of legitimate people's struggles."

"Hindi kami matitinag ng mga pakana ng pananakot, pangigipit at pandarahas ng rehimen. Malakas ang aming loob na irehistro ngayong araw ang aming mga panawagan sapagkat alam naming kaisa namin sa laban ang buong mamamayan," he emphasized.

(We will not be shaken by this regime's intimidation, harassment, and violence. We have the courage to voice out our calls today because we know that the public will support our fight.)

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) earlier told operators and drivers of all modes of road transport including bus, taxi, UV Express, and jeepney to consolidate their fleets under the PUVMP until December 31, or their franchise will expire.

The deadline marks the end of the supposed three-year transition period of the program which was initiated in June 2017 to replace old and dilapidated PUVs with modern vehicles powered by clean electric engines and supported with safety features, as well as an automated fare collection system.

The transport sector has been among the hardest-hit by the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine mid-March which mandated a suspension on all forms of public transportation, 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.

When travel restrictions were lifted during the general community quarantine (GCQ) in June, traditional jeepneys were the last to resume operations among mass transport options.

The LTFRB explained that traditional PUJs are placed at the bottom of the "hierarchy" of public transport due to their limited capacity and lack of contactless payment features required for the "new normal" in the transportation sector.

Based on the latest data from the LTFRB, the Board has so far approved more than 90,000 units of various PUVs since the enforcement of GCQ which allowed public transport to return on the roads after months of hard lockdown.

This includes the 35,022 traditional PUJs, 865 modern PUJs, 4,499 public utility buses, 680 provincial buses, and 390 point-to-point buses.

The transport regulatory body also approved a total of 21,436 taxi and 25,068 Transport Network Vehicles Services (TNVS) units to ferry passengers in the capital region.